Memorial for Gary Stamper set for Thursday

From The Chronicle staff

A public memorial service for Lewis County Commissioner Gary Stamper will be held on Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.

Stamper, 67, died late last month after battling COVID-19 for five weeks. He was vaccinated against the virus.

Pastor Wayne Nelson will serve at the memorial and light refreshments will be provided on the exhibition grounds immediately after the event.

For those unable to attend in person, The Chronicle will broadcast the service live via Facebook. The Chronicle Facebook page can be found by searching for “The Chronicle (@thecentraliachronicle)” or by going directly to https://www.facebook.com/thecentraliachronicle.

Stamper, who represented District 3, died on September 29 at the PeaceHealth Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington.

“Stamper, a former principal, teacher and coach, touched many lives in Lewis County and beyond before joining BOCC in 2015,” the county wrote in a press release.

The family will hold a private burial ceremony at a later date. Arrangements are from Cattermole Funeral Home.

The Board of County Commissioners’ office continues to collect cards for Stamper’s family. They can be sent to “Commissioner Stamper’s Family” at 351 NW North St., Chehalis.