Gary and I were childhood friends from an early age, probably 7 or 8. I met him when he lived on Worsley St. He moved to Dundonald St. a short time later. Gary had a paper route delivering "The Barrie Examiner" and he would always take time to talk to people. He had "the gift of the gab" and people were always happy to see him. (It served him well later in life.) Sometimes we would go to "Pansies Store" on Penetang St. to get candies and sometimes to Smiths Farm Dairy snack bar, also on Penetand St. for hot chocolate in the winter. At night we would go to Codrington St. and slow down cars coming down the road. I can still remember Gary and us out in the middle of the road slowing down approaching cars. Gary would be saying "searching for diamonds" as we walked around on the road with our heads down, giggling like we were searching for something. The car would slow down and we would move out of the way, crouching down and grabbing hold of the back bumper to slide down the road behind it. Those who thought it dangerous just didn't know how to have fun. Gary and I raised Bantam chickens. He had them at his place first; but the Rooster made too much noise and we moved them to my parents place on Peel St. We built a Chicken Coop that stood for over 50 years. We tore it down 2 years ago. It was still in good shape! Gary and I had an interest in birds. At first we hunted them with our BB guns. We joined the Bereton Field Naturalists and laid our guns aside in favour of binoculars. Later Gary got a Pontiac Parisenne convertble. It was a beauty, and we had a lot of fun with it. I have many fond memories of Gary. We never argued and we always found something to talk about and entertain ourselves. To everyone feeling his loss, my deepest sympathy. Don Scanlan