Gary Lee Haas

Gary Lee Haas

October 6, 1949 – May 5, 2017

Gary was born in Los Angeles to Rose Marie (Franco) and Marion Haas. Mom, brother John and Gary spent the early years with and near grandparents Ted and Alice Franco, and helped in the family restaurant. With stepfather Robert Boswell, the family moved to the Long Beach Peninsula, where sister Angel was born. There Gary developed a love of the beach, fishing, boating, independence and general rambunctiousness. He attended Lowell Elementary, Rogers Junior High and graduated from Wilson High School in 1968.

From early teens Gary worked in various Belmont Shore restaurants, eventually becoming the day manager of Big John’s Pizza and Pool. It was there that he met Marilyn McKercher and started an eight+ year courtship that led to their marriage in 1978.

He began his Civil Service career at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard in 1974 as a pipe fitter. He eventually transferred to the Public Works section of the Naval Station and retired in 2007 as an Environmental Protection Specialist with the 63rd RRC at the Joint Forces Training Center in Los Alamitos.

Gary enjoyed family and friends, camping trips with fishing and water skiing, ski trips throughout CA, CO, WY, UT, and travels to Hawaii and Alaska. But his favorite get-away was the vacation home in Twin Peaks. He took impeccable care of his homes, cars and Marilyn. Starting out together so young (20 and 18), Gary and Marilyn really grew up together and expected to grow old together. Although that wasn’t to be, they enjoyed 47 years of love. Gary developed a genetic condition a few years ago that gradually robbed him of his energy and strength, but he never lost his sweetness.

He will be lovingly missed by his survivors, including wife Marilyn, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Jean Tanaka, Dan and Nancy McKercher, Julie and Tom Steckbeck; nieces and nephews Erin and Herb Centeno, Shannon and Josh Reilly, Lisa and Justin Ware, Leslie and Jon Patterson, TJ Steckbeck, Tyler Steckbeck; 9 (soon to be 10) great nieces and nephews; uncles Alex Franco and Joe Vanderkooy; aunts Anita Chichotka and Dolores Harden.

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401