Gary Leonard Hart

Gary Leonard Hart; loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, mentor, and friend; slipped peacefully from this existence into the loving embrace of his Heavenly Father and waiting loved ones on the morning of January 4, 2025, with family by his side.

Gary was born on September 12, 1935, in Ogden, Utah, to Leonard and Viola Hart. He graduated from Ogden High School in 1953 and served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, laboring in the New England States / Novia Scotia Mission.

After his mission, Gary attended Brigham Young University. While visiting his parents’ new home in Fairfield, California, Gary met his eternal sweetheart, Sharon, at a church dance and their first date was on New Years Eve. As she would write to him decades later, she was “so glad you noticed the girl in the red dress at the Christmas dance so many wonderful years ago – I’m glad I wore red!”

Gary and Sharon got engaged in May of 1959 and then were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on August 28, 1959. Their eternal love story and a lifetime of adventures was off to a great start.

Gary earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Sacramento State University in 1958. He then earned a Master’s Degree in Science and Engineering from the Moore School of Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, in 1963.

Gary served for 8 years in the Army National Guard, volunteering his time for one weekend per month.

Gary saw opportunities, learning experiences, and adventures for him, Sharon, and their children as he advanced his career as a Human Resources professional. Working as a consultant during the tumultuous times of the 1960’s took him to faraway and exotic places like South Korea, Japan, and Panama. He resided with his growing family in New Jersey, then California where he worked for IBM for many years in management and Personnel Director of their Research Division. He received a prestigious Outstanding Contribution award from IBM recognizing his contributions to their Career Development Workshop.

During this busy time of life, Gary answered the call when Brigham Young University requested that he teach and do research for one year in the Graduate School of Management in Provo, Utah. He taught their Organizational Behavior course.

New opportunities beckoned from the oil industry in Louisiana and Texas. Gary was the Vice President of Human Resources for Louisiana Land and Exploration Company (LL&E) as the family lived in Mandeville from 1978-1980. The winds of change saw the family relocate to Tyler, Texas and Whitehouse, Texas where Gary was the Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Administration for Delta US from 1980 - 1985. Finally, Gary finished his exemplary career in Utah as the Vice President of Human Resources for Intermountain Health and then Vice President of Human Resources and Board Member at Avalon Health Care from 1985 and into the new millennia.

It could be said that Gary’s greatest professional legacy is that he believed an organization’s greatest value was its people. Gary possessed a gift of communication, empathy, and compassion, always encouraging the best in people and was remembered for his caring about how people would be impacted by organizational decisions. He put people first.

Gary possessed an adventurous spirit. Throughout his life he enjoyed jogging, basketball, golf, boxing, tennis, football, water skiing, and snow skiing. His family remembers fondly the times they went skiing and boating together.

Gary’s children are ever thankful for the life lessons they learned from their father and Gary’s grandchildren remember the special one-on-one time they had with their Grandpa when he would take them to breakfast.

Gary served in many capacities and callings throughout his life as a disciple of the Savior and devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Gary and Sharon had the wonderful opportunity to serve as missionaries for the Church as educational advisors at the institute at Dixie College in St. George, Utah, for a one-year service mission. Gary served faithfully to the end of his Earthly life, the example of Christ always the center of his life, his relationship with his sweetheart, and his family.

To know Gary is to love Gary and, in turn, be loved.

Gary’s children and extended family are privileged witnesses to one of the greatest love stories between him and his sweetheart, Sharon. Their love and service to one another is an example to be emulated, and as was always the case in life, Gary has led the way for his family into the eternities where he awaits his forever sweetheart and their children.

Gary handled the end of his life with inspiring grace, dignity, humor, and boundless love and devotion, especially to his faith and his eternal sweetheart. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Sharon Hart; their five children, Juli Wilcox (Mark), Brett Hart (Lisa), Brian Hart (Camillia), Janelle Hartvigsen (Darin), and Christopher Hart; 15 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; sister, Marcia Matson (Kenny); loving nieces and nephews.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Viola Hart; his brother, Kent Hart (Kathy); his father-in-law, Jesse Lawler; his mother-in-law, Minnie Lawler; brothers-in-law, Jerry Lawler, Stan Magowan, Bill Soderquist; sisters-in-law, Veta Drake, Lois Magowan and Marilyn Soderquist; and many of his best of friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 10:00 –10:45 a.m. at the LDS Chapel, 965 East Oakwood Drive, Bountiful, Utah. Funeral services will then follow at 11:00 a.m. at the same location in the chapel.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.

A very special thanks to the IHC Hospice team for their loving care and support through a difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org.