Greg McHuron

Many people know my father, Gregory I. McHuron, as a plein air painter; working in oil and watercolor/gouache in Jackson Hole, WY since 1973. What you might not know is that he was a staunch advocate for individualism and actively encouraged his wife, children, and others to live life on their own terms and be who they needed to be. This carried over to artists who struggled to find their own personal style in painting and life. Dad gave freely of himself, his skills, his knowledge, and experience to others in many fields of expertise. My father cherished assisting others in bettering themselves in many different venues not just in painting. When an undertaking was decided, it was done to his high level of personal standards, and pride would be taken to make sure of this. Dad often told me as a child, "Any job worth doing is worth doing right the first time". Although my father had extremely high expectations of himself, he did not hold others to his standards but did expect them to give "their all". Dad's very kind and loving spirit was often missed by those not looking carefully. As others have stated my father "did not suffer fools gladly" and delighted in chiding those "not willing to put the work in". He was a devout man of integrity saying what he meant and meaning what he said and appreciated others who did the same. He had opinions on most subjects and would share them freely with others but still respected people with opposing views. I am not capable of describing in words my father's passionate love of the "out of doors" in particular Grand Teton National Park and the reverence of that beauty which he tirelessly captured in his art work. My father felt each painting he created was actually a piece of himself, his spirit, and this might explain a lot to others who truly knew him. My father's thirst for adventure was unquenchable and he was usually either, returning from, going to, or planning the next adventure, any one of which might be the single largest of any person's life but he had many. Dad loved the sea. He Captained a family vessel from Port Ludlow, WA on passages to Vancouver Island, and the San Juan and Queen Charlotte Islands. On another particular adventure he leased a 42 foot (bareboat) Nordic Tug. Starting in Ketchikan Alaska he Captained this vessel through a circumnavigation of the Inside Passage with portages in Tracy Arm, Ford's Terror, Sitka and Glacier Bay to name a few. This was not uncommon for a man who grew up in rustic places like Wyoming's Boyson Dam project camp and Palmer and Douglas, AK where he was surrounded by and schooled with Native Americans and their culture. My father developed a deep emotional and spiritual connection with the Native American Culture and peoples which would influence him throughout the rest of his life. Of great honor to Dad was his invitation to a First Nation Potlatch in Alert Bay by a Master Carver who was carving a traditional dugout canoe commissioned by a museum in Japan. My father had been given permission to watch and then do a painting of the canoe (another great honor), and then was invited to the Potlatch which occurred in their Big House. Dad became an amazing carver in his own right and designed and carved his own Totem Pole and other carvings of Native design. Whether casting flies to a giant gulping cutthroat on Leigh Lake; rowing himself down the Grand Canyon; cross country skinning into a remote haunt; dodging icebergs and 26 foot tidal exchanges; riding a pack string into the Winds; landing reds on Afognak; flying in a float plane over the Brooks Range AK; filling his elk tag and hanging meat; or holding his wife and admiring a spectacular sunset; he sucked the marrow out of life and lived as he chose, sharing, caring, and loving along the way. Please honor him by doing the same. Dad is survived by the love of his life Linda; sons Bret and Ryon; grandchildren McKenzie, Tyler, Brendan, Bryce and Aspen; father Clark; brothers Dave and Eric; sister Marjean; and many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. If you wish to make a donation in Greg's name the family requests they be sent to The National Museum of Wildlife Art, PO Box 6825, Jackson WY. 83002, or the Greg McHuron Memorial Art Fund c/o Grand Teton Association, PO Box 170, Moose, WY. 83012. A celebration of Greg McHuron's colorful life is currently being planned with further information to follow.

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