Gary Duane Askew

Gary Duane Askew was born February 3, 1946 to Myron and Nona (DeBoard) Askew in Twin Falls, Idaho. He attended grade school and graduated in 1964 from Twin Falls High School. While in high school he raised Registered Black Angus Cattle, belonged to 4-H and was an officer in his FFA chapter. He attended University of Idaho and then went to work at the U of I Agriculture Research Center in Kimberly, Idaho. That began his lifelong career in agriculture culminating as a mint oil buyer for several mint processing laboratories. He enjoyed working in the mint industry and associating with the mint oil growers in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada and Utah.

He was a master at woodworking and loved doing projects in his shop. He called it wood butchering, but when you looked at whatever he made, you would disagree heartily. He could create most anything from a picture or drawing.

He loved planting trees. Every year had a bigger vegetable garden than he really intended. Always had plenty to share.

He lived on small acreages and raised livestock most of his life. Some of the most memorable critters he took in were a tom turkey named Larry, who followed him everywhere and a potbellied pig named Sophie who bit your ankle if you didn’t feed her fast enough. He also adopted wild burros, a mother & daughter he named Ruby & Pearl. There were horses, cows, goats, chickens and game birds of every size, shape and description too numerous to mention. He liked building good strong tight fences & barns. He hated livestock without adequate shelters, pens, feed or water. He also hated weeds!  We’re not sure if there are weeds in heaven, but there sure won’t be after he gets there.

He was always available to help neighbors, friends and relatives with their agriculture questions and projects. They nicknamed him askgary.com.

He was very proud of his kids and grandkids. He was married nearly 39 years to the love of his life Clare Anne. He is loved and will be greatly missed.

He passed away on December 19, 2020 of pancreatic cancer and fought that horrible disease to the end. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Myron and Nona (DeBoard) Askew, his brother Verl and brother in law, Russ Sorenson.

He is survived by his wife Clare, his sister Vada Sorenson; his daughter Shanda (Sam) Chapa, their children, Sammy, Shelby & Sophia; son Erin & his daughters Hailey and Audrie and son Matthew (Jeanna) and their children Codi, Madi, Cole and Cooper.

There will be no funeral service per his request. A memorial will be planned for the summer. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Idaho Public Television in his name.

Arrangements are in the care of Alsip & Persons Funeral Chapel.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gary Duane Askew, please visit our floral store.