10/19/2025
This morning, in the barn at Gary Emory's celebration of life in McMinnville, I felt his presence peeking out at us, checking in on what he'd see.
And what a sight it was. Hundreds gathered. Stories shared. Laughter mixed with tears. Pancakes on the farm. Cars everywhere. Friends who traveled from near and far. Exactly as he would have wanted it.
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of spending a day with Gary. He shared stories I'll carry forever—tales of his father Neil's Valley Custom Shop, of rescuing parts from the crusher, of being called an "Outlaw" and wearing it as a badge of honor, of building the first Baja Bug because he couldn't afford a Manx, of turning a wrecked 914-6 into a bed for Rod when he was little.
We talked about projects ahead. Plans we'd never get to finish together.
But standing in that barn today with his friends, surrounded by decades of parts he saved, by the family he loved, by the community he built, I realized Gary's greatest project was already complete: he showed us how to live with passion, preserve with purpose, create without apology, and put good into the world.
To Rod, Linda, Amy, Zayne, Jayde, and the entire Emory family: thank you for sharing him with all of us. Your father, husband, and grandfather didn't just build cars and save parts. He built a legacy of creativity, community, and courage.
The Original Outlaw is gone, but the good he put into the world? That's eternal. It's in the massive crowd that gathered today. It's alive and well in Rod, Amy, Zayne, and Jayde. Just as Neil's legacy lived on in Gary, Gary's legacy lives on in every car the Emory family builds, every person they inspire, every community they create.
You're still bringing people together, Gary. You always will be.
Rest in peace, my friend. Your barn still stands. Your stories still echo. Your spirit lives on in the hands and hearts of those who carry your name and your vision forward.
Thank you for putting so much good into the world.
