Gary Allen Nightingale, 70, lost his fight with renal cell cancer and passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2020. He had recently celebrated his 46th wedding anniversary with his wife, Annette Nightingale. He had been a resident of Sweet Home, Oregon since 1998.

Husband. Father. Grandfather. Brother. Friend. A sweet and beautiful soul he held, Gary was a generous man. He was a person that would never say, “No,” and was always the first to offer a willing, helping hand. Family oriented, Gary felt it was always very important to spend time with his family, which he fully enjoyed. He loved when his children and grandchildren visited.

Gary was born June 29, 1950 in Salem, Oregon to Wayne Enos and Betty Jean (Elmore) Nightingale, the second oldest of six total children. During his childhood, he lived in various places across the western coast states before his family settled in Molalla, Oregon in 1963. Gary was an avid fisherman and knew the best spots around Molalla to fish. He attended Molalla High School where he participated in wrestling and graduated in 1968.

During his junior year in high school, Gary began working for the local mill. This employment opportunity introduced him to a lifelong friend, who, along with his wife, would later introduce Gary to his future wife. In 1973, Gary was introduced to the love of his life, Annette, through these mutual friends. He was taken aback by Annette at the first meeting and explained it was love at first sight.

In the summer of 1974, Gary began his lifelong career as a log truck driver. He and Annette married that same year on September 7, 1974. They welcomed their first child, a son, in 1976, followed by two daughters. They raised their family in Lacomb on the outskirts of Lebanon.

In 1983, Gary became a self-employed owner and operator of his own log trucking business, Gary A. Nightingale Trucking, Inc. He was very proud that he had a state-wide hauling permit that allowed him to haul from border to border within Oregon with many years spent hauling out of Eastern Oregon. He loved being able to provide for his family no matter the sacrifice. He thoroughly enjoyed what he did for a living.

A man of many talents and hobbies, Gary was ambitious and could accomplish or fix anything his mind was set to. Besides being an avid fisherman who could out fish practically anyone, Gary loved camping and hunting. He grew up rifle hunting, which developed into an interest in bow hunting in the late 1980’s. From there, he never turned back and was a very successful bow-hunter. He thoroughly enjoyed camping, and there are many camping trips that encompassed his life. He was very proud when he received his scuba diving certification and enjoyed using this during trips with Annette to Hawaii, as well as local Oregon lakes and at the Oregon coast. He also enjoyed riding both on and off road motorcycles.

Gary is survived by his wife, Annette Nightingale, Sweet Home; daughter and son in law, Tara and Chris DiSante, Lebanon; daughter and son in law, Tesia and Joby Oliver, Redmond; daughter in law, Tamara “Tami” Nightingale, Sweet Home; sister and brother in law Sheryl and Paul Lazenby, Hayden, Idaho; brother and sister in law, Charles “Chuck” and Terria Nightingale, Willamina; and sister and brother in law, Susan “Sue” and Barry Sturn, Amity. Gary is also survived by five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and twelve nieces and nephews.

Gary was preceded in death by his son, Neil Nightingale, in 2016; brother, James “Jim” Nightingale, in 2013; brother, Steven Nightingale, in 1954; mother, Betty Nightingale, in 1989; and father, Wayne Nightingale, in 1979.

A private, family service in Gary’s honor will held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to cancer research in the memory of Gary Nightingale.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.