James Garner

James Raymond Garner, 54, died of heart failure Oct. 31, 2006, while at home in California on his ship, Sea Wave. An accomplished and versatile musician, he was also at various times an organ-builder, sea captain and computer retailer.

Ray was born Dec. 5, 1951, in Santa Ana, Calif., to Genevieve and James Austin Garner. He majored in organ performance at the University of Redlands, in California, and earned a bachelor's in music in 1974.

Following graduation, he established an organ building, restoration and maintenance firm, Raymond Garner & Co. He was responsible for the construction and preservation of nine or more instruments, including a handheld portativ organ for the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Ray's "magnum opus" was the restoration of a three-manual Levi U. Stuart mechanical action organ, which he resurrected from a Masonic hall in Sydney, Ohio, and placed in St. John's Episcopal Church in San Bernardino, Calif.

In 1982, Ray and his wife Shauneen moved to Kalispell, following his installation of two restored organs in Flathead Valley churches. He was an active musical force in Northwest Montana. Ray and Shauneen were founding members of the Glacier Symphony and Chorale, together with Doug and Lindy James and Becky and Frank DuBois.

Ray was a vibrant, entertaining performer who could always captivate any audience. In the early years of the GSC, Ray could be found variously playing bassoon, tuba, percussion, singing tenor or conducting. He was also a Dixieland jazz musician, and performed in many jazz festivals throughout the West. Locally, he played both piano and sousaphone in several ensembles, including the Flathead Valley Community Band and the Rocky Mountain Rhythm Kings.

In 1993, he and Karla West co-founded the Glacier Jazz Stampede, a festival which continues to attract dozens of Dixieland groups and hundred of fans from across the country each year. Ray was a virtuoso ragtime pianist and specialized in the repertoire of Jellyroll Morton. During his years in Montana, Ray also owned Montana MicroSystems, a computer consulting firm.

Early in 2006, Ray determined to purchase the historic tugboat Sea Wave, berthed in Seattle. After arduous labor, he sailed it to Point Richmond, Calif., where it is now docked. While in Seattle, he was spotted by a television production company, which led to his (and Sea Wave's) appearance in a Chevrolet commercial. At this point he became a member of the Screen Actor's Guild.

He is survived by his mother Genevieve; wife Patrice; former wife Shauneen; and children Sydney, 27, Adrienne, 22, and Morgan, 17.

A Mass of Resurrections was held Nov. 11, 2006, at St. Perpetua Church, in Lafayette, Calif. A memorial performance of Mozart's "Requiem" will be held in California in spring 2007, conducted by Shauneen Garner.