Gary Njirich

Gary Njirich was the son of John and Betty Njirich of Columbia, Calif. He was born in Jamestown, Calif., and grew up in Sonora, Calif.

As a boy he helped his father on the ranches of Tuolumne County and he was a Boy Scout. He graduated from Sonora High School and later embarked upon on many adventures in life.

Gary served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Once home from the service he married Joan Balistreri of Sonora. They had two daughters, Lisa Marie and Theresa Ann. They moved from Sonora to Bear Valley, where Gary became a deputy sheriff.

Eventually, life brought him back to his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Paulette Medill of Sonora. Together they would continue a 48-year lifelong spiritual and adventurous path, making many friends along the way. His true passion, as was hers, was to cook.

Life took them many places. In 1995, they opened The Libby Café in Libby. They closed the restaurant in 2017 to start their retirement. After closing the restaurant, Paulette became ill with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and they would have to return to California for treatment. They resided in Pine Grove, Calif., with his daughter, Theresa.

In June 2020, his sweetheart passed away due to the disease.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents, John and Betty Njirich, and his wife of 48 years, Paulette Medill Njirich. He is survived by his daughters, Lisa Njirich Robertson of Valley Springs, Calif., and Theresa Njirich Ruiz of Pine Grove, Calif.; six granddaughters and many great-grandchildren.

Final arrangements are being handled by the Neptune Society of Northern California.