Obituary: Gordon Hal Garff

Gordon Hal Garff

1936 ~ 2008

Gordon Hal Garff, 72, passed away at his home in Cottonwood Heights May 29, 2008, after a brief but intense bout with lung cancer.Gordon was born Jan. 28, 1936, in Boise, Idaho, to Niels Odell and Carmen Sylvia Olsen Garff. He graduated in 1955 from East High School in Salt Lake City and attended the University of Utah. He married Carolyn Hay in the Salt Lake Temple on Sept. 4, 1957.

He served in the Army Reserve for nine years and spent most of his working years as a territory manager for Lennox Industries.

He loved outdoor activities (camping, fishing, hiking, motorcycling, golfing) and especially enjoyed Scouting, both as a youth and as a leader. He was known to friends and family alike as a phenomenal handyman, with an uncanny ability to diagnose mechanical problems and fix them. He was service oriented and enjoyed nothing more than helping his family with home, yard, and school projects. Creative by nature, particularly in woodworking, he designed many unique items that are now treasured possessions of family members. Active in the LDS Church, he served in many positions, including as a bishopric counselor and as a full-time missionary with his wife in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.

Gordon is survived by his wife of 50 years, Carolyn; sons, Gordon Lee (Charlette) Garff and Garrett Hal (Melinda) Garff; daughter, Amanda Garff; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two half-brothers, Reid Odell Garff and Stephen Niles Garff.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the LDS Church Perpetual Education Fund.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 2, at 11:00 a.m. in the Salt Lake Wasatch Stake Center Chapel, 8170 S. Short Hills Drive (3425 E.). Family and friends may call Sunday, June 1, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Mountain View Memorial Mortuary, 3115 E. Bengal Blvd. (7800 So.) and again at the church on Monday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services.