On September 20th, Gregory James Garman, 68, broke free of the confines of dementia that had robbed his friends and family of his talents and sarcastic ways for the last several years.

Greg was born on June 20, 1958 to Robin and Paul Garman in Champaign, Illinois.

He spent his formative years in Northfield, Minnesota where he traveled in a crowd of typical 70s teens.

Though Greg was very smart, he never was much of an academic student, he was born with an incredible talent for art. After high school, he studied at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

Greg spent his 20s and 30s looking for direction. He lived in Illinois and Crawfordsville. He worked at Valley Bikes alongside his father. The adolescent hood rats who hung around “Valley” looked to Greg like a cool older brother. They all thought he was “RAD”.

Greg didn’t find his true direction in art until he broke his left hand defending a friend in an alley brawl in downtown Crawfordsville. Once that cast came off, he never looked back. Greg began to paint amazingly realistic bird portraits. He did several pieces for the Nature Conservancy of Indiana as well as an annual painting for the Stihl chainsaw company. He and his good friend and print publisher, Jim Moore, traveled the country to art shows as well as many trips to Florida and Canada. His good drinking buddy and fishing partner, James Brown, said that Greg would hold up his hands and say no calluses here. I haven’t worked a day in my life. I’m an artist.

Greg moved to the Traverse City Michigan area in the mid-90s. He met many talented artists and friends there. To pay the bills, he cooked at the Happy Hour. During this time, he expanded his artistic abilities to include carving. He just picked up a piece of wood and made it into a bird that appeared to have just landed on the block of wood where it sat. These were his happiest years.

In 2014 he moved back to Montgomery County to be closer to his aging mother who he loved and admired deeply. He opened NEST in Waynetown, Indiana. There he created many beautiful pieces and visited with locals from his wooden bench outside.

Greg loved nature, especially birds. He studied their behavior and traits through feeding stations outside his window and banding stations with groups in Michigan. He always enjoyed watching sports and drinking beer (non-alcoholic for the last 15 years). For many years he ran in the Mini Marathon. He was always proud of the accomplishments of his nephews. He was a great cook. His family and friends enjoyed many fish fries and “best ever” Thanksgiving meals. He will be missed by his sister Chris, his nephew Tate, his nephew Blaine and family Kelsey, Arlo, and Poppy.

Greg’s talent will be appreciated for generations in paintings and carvings adorning homes throughout the country.

No services will be held. Memorials in Greg’s name can be made to Lye Creek Prairie Burn. Checks can be made out to Friends of Lye Creek Prairie Burn and mailed to: 8152 N 200 East, Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Local friends can deposit directly at HHSB to the Lye Creek Prairie Burn account. Venmo and PayPal payment options