November 3, 1945 – December 15, 2024
at the age of 79 years:     

Gary Lewis Goodridge passed away peacefully at Bastion Place in Salmon Arm, BC, on December 15, 2024.  This kind, loving, intelligent man lost his courageous one-year battle to cancer with his wife Linda, his Jack Russell terrier Peekay and four close friends by his side.

Gary was born in Eriksdale, MB, on November 3, 1945.  His family lived in Moosehorn, MB, where he grew up and went to school.  He joined the RCMP soon out of high school.  His first posting was Tisdale, SK, where he met Linda Jones, who was finishing high school.  They married in 1968.

Most of Gary’s service in the RCMP was in Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.  He was known as an honourable, fair and devoted policeman with a strong work ethic.  Gary was promoted through the ranks, finishing as S/Sgt in charge of Dawson Creek, BC.  He and Linda retired to the Salmon Arm area (Sunnybrae) in 1996.  In retirement, he worked for several years in the boat business, enjoying and helping others enjoy the beautiful Shuswap Lakes.

Throughout his life, Gary dearly loved his family, animals, nature, helping others, travel, cars and sports.  He played hockey himself and was a fan of the Canucks, Oilers and Flames.  Fifteen years in the Northwest Territories were packed with adventures for Gary and Linda, exciting and numerous to fill a book.

Lovingly remembered by the love of his life, Linda; his daughter Tanis Sumners and three grandchildren, Traiden (Brianna), Whrett, and Alyas, all of Edmonton, AB; his brother Randy Goodridge (Bev); nephew Damien (Blaine) of Moosehorn, MB; and nephew Chas of Winnipeg, MB; his sister-in-law Shirley Kotrla (Norbert) of Ft. Qu’Appelle, SK; his nephew Ben Kotrla (Roxanne) of Winnipeg, MB and niece Mandi (Blazej) Taras, missionaries in Macedonia.

Gary was predeceased by his son-in-law Rodney Sumners, his parents and in-laws and extended family members.

Gary holds a special place in the hearts of family and friends far and wide.  He believed in God’s promise of a resurrection to everlasting life on a perfected paradise earth.  His last soft words to Linda on December 15 were “I’ll see you there.”  Until then, he rests peacefully in God’s memory.

“Gone from our sight, but never our memories –
gone from our touch, but never our hearts”