Gary Sawyer

Livestream Link: https://my.gather.app/remember/gary-sawyer-2026

Afton Gary Sawyer returned to his Heavenly Father on June 14th, 2026, at the Uintah Basin Medical Center, Roosevelt-Duchesne County Utah. He was born in Red Mesa, Colorado on August 13th, 1936, to Afton Gillespie Sawyer and Lurean Cloward.

Gary moved with his family to Vernal Utah where he attended Central Elementary, and Vernal Junior High, graduating from Uintah High School in 1956. As a teenager Gary spent summers living on the mountain, working with his dad Ivan Slaugh and his brother Devon cutting timber. Gary enlisted in the US Air Force for two years as an electrician assigned to a B52 bomber. After this service he worked in Vernal as a Saddle Tree Maker for the rest of his career. He was a jack of all trades and always had something he was repairing or modifying for family or friends.

Gary had a love for the outdoors, fishing, hunting and just being in the mountains. He was an avid gardener tending to his flowers and plants up until the week of his death. His greatest love was for his family and the Savior Jesus Christ. He had a vibrant testimony of the Plan of Salvation and was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served as a temple ordinance worker in Vernal for 8 years. He had a great sense of humor and was a wonderful storyteller-something that his children and grandchildren will greatly miss.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years Carolyn (Haws), his four children Wendy (Art) Chase, Coreena Jensen, Matthew Gary Sawyer and Jennifer (Ben) Gingell; brothers Devon (Judy) Sawyer, Glen (Crystal) Slaugh, Milo (Judy) Slaugh and Leroy (Cinda) Sawyer; 15 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Ivan and Lurean Slaugh, his sister Letha (Dan) Lorimor and Steven Sawyer.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 11 am at the Glines Stake Center (78 South Aggie Blvd.) with viewings held Wednesday, July 1st from 6-8 pm at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary, and 1 hour prior at the Glines Stake Center.

Burial will be in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Blackburn Vernal Mortuary.