Gary Lynn Marcum

March 28, 1939 – June 7, 2017

Posted

Gary, 78, lost his battle with cancer at home with family. Gary survived many major surgeries but even with his courageous battle, his body couldn’t beat this foe.
Gary was born to Jess Edward Marcum and Elsie Fuhrman Marcum on March 28, 1939, in Boise, Idaho. He lived in Provo, Utah and Meridian, Twin Falls, Glenn’s Ferry, Emmett, and Caldwell, Idaho as his dad moved while working for Idaho Power.
As a young man, Gary spent his summers working on his Aunt and Uncle Wiseman’s ranch at Hammer Flats above Lucky Peak.                                                 
Gary was a military veteran serving in the United States Air Force, functioning as an air traffic controller and learning meteorology until he was honorably discharged. He soon began employment with Idaho Power as a lineman. While working a job in American Falls, Idaho, he met a beautiful gal named Dorothy Mae Polzin working at the soda fountain in the local drug store. After only three dates, he said to her “I’m gonna marry you.” They were married July 21, 1962, in American Falls, Idaho.
Gary may have been late to the wedding but always adored his wife Dorothy for nearly 55 years of marriage. The couple had their only son, Brett Edward Marcum, on Feb. 3, 1970, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise, Idaho.
Gary worked for the federal government nearly his entire career including; National Weather Service (NWS), Agricultural Research Center (ARC) and Bureau of Reclamation. Job requirements necessitated relocating to Washington D.C., Salt Lake City, Boise and Page.
Gary held positions at NWS as a meteorologist, computer specialist and was promoted to management. Gary participated in forecasting the weather for the 1984 Summer Olympics in California. In addition, he performed weather impact studies of the Mount St. Helens volcano eruption.
The ARC had Gary performing snow melt studies in the Reynolds Creek area of Idaho, which is an area he grew fond of.
In 1985, Gary started his career for the Bureau of Reclamation at Glen Canyon Dam in Page. He managed the computer network that regulated water flows between the many dams of the Colorado River drainage including Glen Canyon at Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge, Fontenelle, Crystal, Morrow Point and Blue Mesa. He retired in April 1994. The family spent nearly every weekend boating, water skiing, fishing and exploring Lake Powell with family and friends while living in Page.
Gary and his family spent many years enjoying camping in Idaho, Arizona, Utah, Oregon and Alaska. One of the most memorable RV trips was taken to Homer, Alaska where they celebrated their son Brett’s marriage to Kristi Fischer and spent a month traveling the state. Soon after the wedding, Gary began pestering them for a grandchild and he finally received his favorite little person in July of 2007, Weston Edward Marcum. Gary “PaPa” enjoyed spending time and loving on Weston along with teaching him important things such as “Hilominiminicowcowumchowchowpeewowwowyouhoo” and also about “man berries.” Their childish giggles together were priceless.
In more recent years, campouts at the Marcum’s home in Big Water, Utah became nearly an annual event and marked some of Gary’s favorite times with friends. He loved being the tour guide for four wheeler rides to many amazing local destinations. Gary also enjoyed elk camps on the Kaibab. He lived for the “shock factor” of his favorite jokes, “you know the ones” and a good cocktail.
Gary’s presence in our lives will certainly be missed. Gary is survived by his wife, Dorothy; son, Brett (Kristi); grandson, Weston; sisters, Pam Marcum and Julie Marcum; nephew, Sam (Brandi) Everitt; brother-in-law, Ray (Donna) Polzin; nieces, Maren (Justin) Knopp, Leslie (Chris) Edwards, Kim (Alex) Hoffman; sister-in-law, Shirley Polzin; and many cousins.
Rest in peace dear Gary. Your silly jokes and sayings will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew you.
The family would like to thank Zion’s Way Hospice for the special care given to Gary.
A celebration of life will be held in honor of Gary at Brett’s home in Meridian, Idaho on Saturday, July 1, 2017, from 2-4 p.m. Please contact the family for the address.
A celebration of life will also be held at the Elk’s Lodge in Page on July 8, 2017, from 2-4 p.m. Cremation arrangements were made with Mosdell Mortuary.