Gary was born August 31, 1940, to Horace and Oneta Motsenbocker in Dougherty, Oklahoma. The family soon moved to Southern California and subsequently to Kingsburg, where he attended school and grew up, the second of four children. He died February 19, 2015 after a year-long battle with lung cancer. On Valentine's Day 1966 he met Sharon Ventura on a blind date. Within a few months they were engaged, and married on October 1 that same year. They have one son, Jon Motsenbocker, who has supplied great support and emotional comfort to his mother over the past year. Gary graduated from Fresno State and began his career as a social worker with Fresno County where he worked for 24 years, eventually becoming the Assistant Administrator/Coroner. At the age of 40 he made the decision to further his education by attending law school. He graduated from Humphrey's College of Law while working full time; he liked to say that between work, family, attending classes, and studying, he had about one hour of free time every week. Hard work and perseverance paid off as he opened his sole practitioner office specializing in trusts, wills, and probate, a career he enjoyed for 26 years. In 1996 he was honored to be sworn in as Judge Pro Tem for Probate Court. He also served on the Professional Advisory Committee for Community Home Care Services, as a lecturer for NBI Estate Planning Seminars, and a member of Fresno County Bar Estate Planning Section. Volunteer hours were donated to Little League coaching, Big Brothers and Downtown Rotary. From an early age, Gary developed a love of the great outdoors, particularly the mountains, which dovetailed nicely with his hobby of photography. He hunted and fished with family and friends for many years. Around age 16, he began week-long back packing and fishing trips with his lifelong friend, Ron Ruether. In early trips, they hiked in, gradually evolving to backpacking with horses, and eventually to vehicular transport. The trips have continued for 58 years, with the group expanding from the two original members to as many as 9 men at times. Gary was also a great cook, so one of his main roles in the group was as the chef. These trips were a highlight every year; he had great hopes of being able to go on the trip in 2014, but reluctantly backed out due to his illness. He is preceded in death by both parents; his father-in-law, Angelo Ventura; his brother-in-law, Tim Ventura; his older brother, Ed, Ed's son, Brian; and niece, Shelby Ruether. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; son, Jon; mother-in-law, Angie Ventura; and two sisters, Linda Ginise and her husband Lou of Fresno, and Judy Trimble and her husband Dennis of Kingsburg, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of life will be held Yost & Webb Funeral Chapel, 1002 T Street, Fresno, on Thursday, February 26, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Remembrances may be made to: San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, Inc.,11605 Old Friant Road, Fresno 93730 -