Gary Routon

Gary L. Routon was born May 29th, 1953, in Fowler, Kansas. Life in heaven began on September 28, 2016 from accident related causes. Gary and his wife, Debbie, met as young children growing up in the small community of Beaver, Kansas where Gary’s dad pastored a church. Growing up in a farming community, Gary and his brothers learned the value of hard work. His youth and young adult life included many hours of laboring in the wheat harvest, driving farm equipment and many other aspects of life on Kansas farms. Gary and Deb attended Barclay College in Haviland, KS, and married during their junior/senior year. After receiving their bachelors degrees, they immediately felt called into ministry and served as youth leaders and pastors for twelve years at Lone Star Friends Church, a country church outside of Hugoton, KS. While there they became parents to son Ben and twin sons, Aaron and Micah. In 1987, they were called to Oregon to pastor West Chehalem Friends Church outside of Newberg. From 1992 to present they have been leaders in a marriage ministry called Covenant Keepers. Gary’s dad, Kenneth Routon, had been trained in auto mechanics by his father. He passed that knowledge to his sons. Gary used those skills on many occasions, not only for his personal vehicles, but worked for local car dealers when money was needed to support his family. For 12 years those skills were valuable as he worked for American Family Insurance as an insurance adjuster. He worked for Kuni Cadillac in Beaverton for many years before American Family Insurance and most recently was asked to return to the job at Kuni as a Body Shop Estimator. He was on his way to Kuni when the accident occurred. Gary’s hobbies included playing guitar, singing, working on and driving his 1955 Ford Crown Victoria dream car, riding motorcycles, and people. He invested in the lives of his family and friends. Their home is a veritable “Grand Central Station” for people of all ages. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Debbie, three sons, Ben of southwest Portland, Aaron and Emily of Sitka, Alaska, and Micah and Marla of Recife, Brazil. Also surviving Gary is his mother, Phyllis Routon of Pratt, KS, brothers Rodney Routon of Wellman, IA, Martin Routon of Derby, KS, Tracy Routon of Pratt, KS, sisters Denise Dove of Elgin, OK and Carrie Dingman of Urbandale, IA. In addition, Gary has four granddaughters, one grandson, and a wealth of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews who will miss him greatly. Gary was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Routon. A celebration of life will be held on October 5 at 3 p.m. at the Newberg Red Hills Church (Foursquare), 115 W. 3rd St., in Newberg. A reception will follow. Location will be announced at the celebration service which will include shared stories of Gary’s life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Gary’s name can be made to Barclay College, 607 Kingman Ave, Haviland, KS 67059, or Covenant Keepers, PO Box 38238, Charlotte, NC 28278

Gary Routon

May 29, 1953 - September 28, 2016