Lance Gwyther
Soda Springs, CA |
Lance began the next leg of his journey on December 4, 2012, at Soda Springs, in his beloved (and sometimes hated) Sierra Nevada Mountains. He lived an often difficult, often joyous, full life of his own choosing. Lance was often solitary, and private with a lifestyle that was hard and fast and sometimes reckless, but he always lived with a huge heart and generous soul.
Lance was born in Springfield, Mass. on August 25, 1960. Part of an U.S. Air Force family he spent his early years traveling, living in Guam for two years and then settling in Rancho Cordova, CA at about the age of 4. He would spend the next 16 years or more in “Rancho,” skiing as often as he could manage, dirt biking, playing ball, camping, carousing with his “Buds” and enjoying all of Northern California’s treats.
Lance was a GREAT skier, later a snowboarder, loved baseball, golf, fishing, camping, snow mobileing, watching football, taking care of dogs and most people.
Lance was a hardworking man all his life. Among many other things he did or accomplished in his too-short life: He was a master carpenter and woodworker, a highly skilled finish carpenter (on many homes and businesses in Soda Springs and surrounding areas-until a serious on-the-job injury that plagued him to the end); a highly skilled mechanic as a younger man, he was a highly sought-after auto mechanic, but later in life found much more joy in wood work; he was a certified paramedic/EMT; directed crews erecting transmission towers for microwave stations all over the country; drove the sick and elderly to hospitals and doctors offices; and could do almost anything with his hands and brains that needed to be done. More often than not, he used those skills to help out friends and family.
The journey of Lance’s loving Mother, Shirley Ann Gwyther (nee Rouse) started earlier than his.
The “baby” of a family of four children, Lance is survived by his father, Douglas R. Gwyther (Gerri) of Penn Valley California; his older brother Lyle Paul Gwyther (Barbara) of Phoenix, Arizona, his older brother Doug Gwyther, Jr. (Georgene) of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas and his older sister Lori Ann Knudsen (Bill) of Phoenix, Arizona.
“The Kid” also leaves a host of loving uncles, aunts, cousin, and nieces and nephews who he loved deeply. Those closest to him were Alex and Kellye and David Knudsen of Phoenix and Jenny Brown and Meredith Gwyther and Josh Gwyther, all of who live in California.
His family suffers the pain of having Lance leave us so early, at time in his life when his problems seemed finally to be easing, but find some peace in knowing Lance has found some long-deserved peace of his own.
Lance lived his life as an honorable and decent man. His family and his many friends saw beyond some of his struggles and shortcoming and knew he was doing the best he could do to be the best man he could be.
Lance was extremely loved by all he met.
He loved others oftentimes far beyond his capacity to show it.
And, you knew it when he loved you.
Travel gently, and be at peace Lance. You will forever be missed.
