Gilmer Dean Hodgin, 76, of Sedro-Woolley passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the family home. Gil was born in Franklin, NC, on October 5,1947, to Bud and Dorothy Hodgin. At six years old, the family moved to Skagit Valley, where he attended and graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School. After graduating, he began his life as a cattleman and independent logger. While logging in the San Juan Islands and disliking the ferry rides to and from, he earned his private pilot’s license.

Throughout his childhood, Gil had a love for horses. Once he was old enough to enter local rodeos, he started riding bareback. His love for rodeo carried on to his son and grandchildren. It was a long-standing tradition for his grandchildren to spend countless hours with “Papa” during the summers, learning the cowboy way of feeding cows, driving the hay truck, bucking hay bales and mending fences. In addition, he gave private and group bareback lessons on a 50-gallon barrel set up in the front yard. When weather or daylight would not permit for this activity outside, the lessons would continue inside with his grandchildren on his knee.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, at the family home and two children: his son, Clint and daughter- in-law Tamara Hodgin of Miles City, MT, daughter, Sophia, and son-in-law Tony Taxdahl of Sedro-Woolley; eight grandchildren and their spouses: Cody, Kelsey & Chris, Dalton & Malia, Colton & Karli, Jace, Kayla, Boyce and Bryer; six great-grandchildren: Payton, Mason, Maycee, Corbin, Harper, and Taya; his brother Lonnie Hodgin of Sedro-Woolley, Nephew Tye and his wife, Jill, and niece Lonna Feemster and her husband Steve; along with many more nieces and nephews as well as his family members in North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by both of his parents and his sister.

A Celebration of life will be held at 1:00, on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the Taxdahl family home located at 30628 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. Share your memories of Gil and sign the online guest register.