Obituary: Benway, Gary Neil

BENWAY, Gary Neil (Age 49) Surrounded by family and friends, Gary lost his courageous two and a half year battle with melanoma on Monday, November 17th.

Gary was born on January 22, 1965, to Warren and Betty Benway in Douglas, GA and moved with is family to Spokane, WA when he was eight months old.

After graduating from Rogers High School in 1983, he followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the Army and becoming an MP.

While stationed in Sinop, Turkey, Gary was also a DJ for the soldiers on base.

Gary met his wife, Kalita, in 1992 and they were married on February 29, 1996.

Gary was a Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker at Krueger Sheet Metal and a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 55.

Gary was a devoted Christ Follower and a proud member of One* Spokane.

Gary is survived by his wife, Kalita; his parents Warren and Betty Benway; brother Dwayne (GA); sister Sheri West; sister-in-law Joanna (Chris) Eckersley; brothers-in-law: Jeff Leyva (CA), Peter (Svetlana) Leyva (CA); nieces and nephews: Elizabeth (Karl) Kohler, Rebecca West, Nicholas West, Christopher (Ashley) West (AZ), Brianna (Ruger) Williams (ID), Allison Leyva (CA), Natasha (Nick) Ivanou (CA), Jeff Leyva, Jr; and great nieces and nephews: Dallas West-Stein, Kaitlyn and Kamden Kohler, Easton West (AZ) and Nick Ivanou, Jr (CA).

There will be a Memorial Service at 1:00pm on Saturday, December 6th at One* Spokane, 15601 E 24th Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99037 In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to Hospice of Spokane.