Garry Wayne Graf

Garry W. Graf passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on November 27, 2024 in Lindon, Utah. Garry was born March 14, 1936 in Escalante, Utah to Sylvan and Sylva Schow Graf. He was the oldest of six children. Garry was raised in Santa Clara, Utah. He attended elementary school in Santa Clara, then attended Woodward Jr. High, Dixie High School, and Dixie Jr. College in St. George. He was active in sports (basketball, baseball, and track) and leadership. As a teenager, Garry went with his father on many trips hauling cattle to the Los Angeles stock yards. On other occasions, he drove the truckload of cattle to Los Angeles by himself. He worked closely with his father on the farm and selling fruit door-to-door throughout Southern Utah and Southern Nevada. After serving in the Southern California mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1956-1958, Garry met and married Fae Donna Chamberlain on July 18, 1959 in the St. George Temple. They were married for 61 years prior to Donna’s passing on November 17, 2020. Garry was pleased to be the father, grandfather, and great-grandfather of a large family where he found his greatest happiness and fulfillment. He and Donna have 9 children, 40 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren. He received a Bachelors degree in Sociology and English and a Masters degree in Religious Education and Church History from Brigham Young University. He taught in the Religion Department while receiving his Masters degree. Garry and Donna moved to Escalante, Utah in 1960 where he taught seminary until 1963. Garry worked at many different summer jobs through the years. One of his favorites was as a tour driver to the National Parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Grand Canyon) for 5 summers. After receiving his Masters degree in 1964, he and Donna moved to Cedar City, Utah where he was the LDS Seminary principal at Cedar City High School for two years. He was then assigned to teach at the Institute of Religion adjacent to Southern Utah University and taught there for 35 years until his retirement in 2001. During that time, he also served in leadership positions (associate director and faculty advisor). He enjoyed studying and teaching the gospel to multiple generations of institute students. After retiring from teaching, Garry worked as a Hospice Chaplain for 17 years until the age of 82. Garry was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in various organizations of the Church, including as a university married ward bishop, and on 3 High Councils. He served as an ordinance worker in the St. George Temple for 5 years and found it to be a very sacred, special calling. Garry enjoyed sports and the outdoors – exploring, hiking, climbing mountains, camping, hunting, fishing, and riding his motorcycle on many mountain trails. Garry shared his passion for the outdoors with his family and created many wonderful memories and traditions that have continued in his children’s lives. During the last part of his life, Garry moved to Northern Utah and lived with family members and then lived at the Spring Gardens Senior Living Center in Lindon, Utah where he enjoyed making friends with the residents and staff and was an active member of the Church there in the Branch. We are grateful to the administrators and medical staff for their friendly, compassionate care. We also appreciate the kind and loving care for Garry and our family provided by Randi from Serenity Hospice of Utah. Garry is survived by his 5 sons and 4 daughters: Michael (Barbara) of Pleasant Grove, UT; Brian (Sharla) of Orem, UT; Curtis (Sydna) of Lindon, UT; Sheri (Lynn) Smith of Cedar City, UT; Stephanie (Darin) Smith of Lehi, UT; Kimberly (Shaun) Nielson of Highland, UT; Lisa (Jay) Mills of Eagle Mountain, UT; Nathan (Courtney) of Las Vegas, NV; and Ryan (Donna) of St. George, UT. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary (Steve) Sevy of Santa Clara, UT; Roberta (David) DeCow of Kaysville, UT; and Kathryn (Bruce) Pickett of St. George, UT. He is preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his sister (Shirley), and his brother (Don). Memorial services will be held December 6, 2024 at 11 am at 500 W 400 N in Cedar City. Information regarding the funeral broadcast is provided above and we ask that any flowers be ordered from Zion Sun Floral (Linda 435-586-6119) in Cedar City, Utah. Visitations will be held on December 6, 2024 at 500 W 400 N from 9:00 am to 10:30 am prior to the memorial service. Interment will follow at the Cedar City cemetery. Arrangements for the service are entrusted to the care of Serenity Funeral Home (801-255-2801).

Garry Wayne Graf

March 14, 1936 - November 27, 2024