David Henry Garner, passed away on Jan. 31, 2024, in St. George, Utah. He was born Jan. 9, 1935, in Driggs, Idaho, to Henry Andrew Garner and Ruth Mace Waddell. He married his sweetheart Marcia Jean Evans in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 11, 1958. She passed away Feb. 5, 2014, after 56 years of marriage and five children. He later married “his Verda”, Verda Russell Manning, on Nov. 13, 2015.
David was raised in the shadows of the Teton Peaks, in Alta on the state line of Wyoming and Idaho. As the oldest child, he learned the value of hard work while farming shoulder to shoulder with his parents, milking cows and cutting lumber. He was devoted to the Lord at an early age. He served a mission as a young man to the Northern California Mission and later with his wife Marcia in the California, Carlsbad Mission.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in educational administration from Brigham Young University.
In 1962 David was hired to teach seminary. With over 34 years of employment in seminary and institutes, he was a master teacher and scriptorian. He taught seminary and institute in St George, Logan, and Ogden, Utah; Afton, Wyoming; Alta Loma, California; Billings, Montana; and Vancouver, Canada. He also wrote curriculum at the church office building in Salt Lake City. In between his work and raising a family he conducted tours to the Holy Land, Egypt, Jordan, Greece and Italy. In 1980 he directed a BYU semester abroad to Israel.
He served in many capacities in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including, Sunday School teacher and President, Bishop, High Councilor, Counselor in the Stake Presidency, Stake President and Temple Sealer.
David is survived by his wife Verda; his sister Irene Schiers; his sister-in-law Jenae Garner; his brothers-in-law John Evans and Fred Staker; and his children Brian and wife Ann Garner of Kaysville, Utah; Dean and wife Lisa Garner of St George; Jan and husband Paul Merideth of Eagle Mountain; Joan and husband Jason Cardinet of New Castle, California; and David and wife Rochelle Jensen of Rigby, Idaho. He had 20 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren.
David was preceded in death by his wife Marcia, his parents Henry and Ruth, his siblings Jay, Mary and Dell.
The family would like to thank the many neighbors and ward members who have served and helped David and Verda over the years.
In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the humanitarian fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Funeral services and celebration of David’s life were held on Feb. 5, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the LDS chapel located at 1282 West 500 South Circle, St Georg. A viewing was held at the same location from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.. Interment was held at the Ivins City Cemetery following the funeral.
Family and friends are invited to click here to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.