Gary Wayne Felts, an Alaskan resident of 53 years, died Jan. 13, 2025, at home with his family in Palmer, Alaska, at the age of 80.

Gary was born July 16, 1944, in Mount Airy, N.C. He was the son of William Friel and Ila Marie Felts. He lived on the family dairy farm in Woodlawn, Va., until he enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 21.