Gary Lee Cavender

Gary passed away suddenly April 17,2012. Friends are invited to celebrate Gary's life with his son Casey and his family ,Sunday April 29th at Great Northwest Territories in Naples from 3pm-6pm. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware to C. Leslie and Florence E. Cavender, joining a brother Wayne to complete their family. He grew up and attended school in New Castle, Delaware graduating from Brown Tech Vocational school in 1969. Gary had a lifelong interest in cars, trucks and racing - especially drag racing his 56' Corvette at Cecil Co. Dragway. He shared many good times with his friends cruising in his car, skiing the Chesapeake Bay Canal and partying at the river back east when younger. Gary moved to Ormond Beach Florida with Debbie Beecher in 1975. They were married in 1976 and moved together to Naples, Idaho in 1978 where they built a "mill end" house on "Poverty Flats" (Mountain Meadows) and welcomed a son Casey Lee into their lives. Gary moved three times but never left Naples, living next on Shiloh Rd. then at his current residence on Hwy. 95. Gary's life was all about passing on his knowledge of cars to his son Casey. They were inseparable and spent countless hours together restoring cars, building engines, attending car shows, participating in the B.F. Demo Derbys where they initiated the original "stack" pipe through the roof and won the hard luck trophy one year, and racing - first go-karts then stock cars in Spokane and Post Falls, and Roseville California. He loved music, dancing, telling jokes, and always had a good story: one being the time his dad built him a go-kart with a steel pipe for the steering, no brakes and no gas pedal, but lots of fun! He liked to try to beat nephew Tucker in matches for Star Wars trivia and was proud to be known as "Papa" to Isabella. Gary began his career driving long-haul truck then was self-employed as "Rocks on Wheels" Cavender Trucking, hauling rock, sand, dirt and drove his water truck the last five years. Gary shared an indescribable relationship with his mother and cherished his family. Now resting with his father who preceded him in death along with his Uncle Bud, Gary is survived by his son Casey Lee of Naples, mother Florence of Sandpoint, brother Wayne (Bethany) of Naples along with many cousins, nieces, and nephews; and Suzan Lamarsh with whom he has shared a loving relationship over the past 8 years. He will be fondly remembered as "the original deal maker", "never meeting a car he didn't want to take apart", for his "general awesomeness" and his sense of humor. Family and friends are invited to sign Gary’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.