Gary J Navert, 70 of Burlington, WA passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 5th 2013. He was born in Mount Vernon, and graduated from BEHS the class of 1960. Using his strong work ethics, he began his life's career picking berries for Sakuma Brothers, fueled and serviced cars at Jim Neff Texaco, repaired broken VW's for Mr. Harold Schuur, a field mechanic on the pea viner's set for Stokely Van Camp, and drove truck for Skagit Valley Trucking, saving his hard earned cash to pay his education at Western Washington University, achieving a Masters in Physics in 1969. His new career began working at the US Navy research and development center in Pasadena, CA, until its closure, when he transferred to the Navy facility at Keyport, WA, working there until his retirement in 2002. He worked for various contractors, developing and writing technical documents for the Navy's underwater torpedo. His greatest achievement was in 1986 as the lone civilian contractor traveling with an elite group of Navy personal to the Arctic Circle to test his torpedos under the ice during the Cold War. Gary loved working on his cars and collecting old stuff. He could tell you where every wrecking yard or junk store was in the Western United States, as he loved a great road trip. Gary also was instrumental in organizing the annual car swap meet for the North Cascade Street Rod Association (NCSRA), initiated a scholarship fund on behalf of the NCSRA members to the Skagit Valley College Automotive Technology Program, and made sure the Dairy Bar was setup and in working order at the county fair for the Skagit County Dairy Women. Gary is preceded in death by father John, and his mother Thelma. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Janet, son Phil, sisters Laurel (Loyal) Idso, Karen (Richard) Gabriel, brothers David (Jeani), and Richard (Robin), along with many cousins, nephews, nieces, grand nephews and grand nieces, as he loved them all. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013, at 11 AM at the Edison Lutheran Church, 14201 Church Rd Bow, WA. A burial service will be held prior at the Bow Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be designated to the Edison Lutheran Church Building Fund, or to the Gary Navert Hotrod Scholarship Fund at the Skagit Valley College Automotive Technology Program, attn: Scott Hall, 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.