August 23, 2021 4:00 a.m. 

The community remembered Gary Leif during a memorial service on Saturday.

The lawmaker who had been deeply involved in the Umpqua Valley, passed away on July 22nd.

The event was held at Roseburg Christian Fellowship with a crowd including around 15 members of the Oregon State Legislature. That included Democratic House Speaker Tina Kotek and Republican House Leader Christine Drazen.

Outside the auditorium there were displays showing Leif’s family, his work in the community and some highlights of his photography career.

RCF Pastor James Wafer said Leif chose to continue and serve the community in his last months, when he easily could have been doing other things. Longtime friend Roger Hartman, a former Douglas County Assessor, said Leif’s love of photography started early in his life. Along with his businesses, he said Leif was active in the community, serving on 50 committees or boards over time,

Drazen said Leif, “worked to bring people together”. She noted that Leif was always quick to offer a kind word to other legislators, and said he was “unrelenting in his passion to serve”. Drazen said Leif “led with his heart”.

Lifelong friend David Maks said Leif was the classic entrepreneur, was “always on” and was “a textbook gentleman”.

Roseburg Mayor Larry Rich said while he had known Leif for 30 years, their relationship deepened dramatically in December when Leif met with Rich, telling him he had cancer, and only months to live. Rich immediately accepted Leif’s request that he become his communications director, and began work the next day. Rich said Leif had no fear about the future saying, “I’m right with God”. Rich noted Leif’s passion for his legislative work and said Leif believed it was “the best job I have ever had – better than being a county commissioner and better than being a photographer”. Rich emphasized Leif’s commitment to working with both Democrats and Republicans.

Leif had been the House District 2 State Representative since 2018, after being appointed when Dallas Heard moved to the state senate. He had been elected as a Douglas County Commissioner in 2016, but gave up that job to begin his work in Salem.

Gary Leif was 64.