Garry Dean Barrick, age 80, returned to his Heavenly Father on Nov. 9, 2023. He passed away in his home surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Garry was born on Nov. 18, 1942, in Cedar City, Utah, and was the first child of Oscar and Dawn Barrick. A year after his birth, his family moved to Hurricane, Utah. He has resided in Hurricane ever since.
Garry graduated from Hurricane High in 1961. He was a good athlete. He made all the teams, baseball, football, basketball, and track. He lettered in football and made the All-Region team. He was diverse in his extracurricular activities. Some of his favorite honors were first chair in the trumpet section of the band and winning a spot on the Traveling Assembly as he sang and accompanied himself on the guitar.
After graduation, Garry married his high school sweetheart Vondell Lee. They were married on Nov. 18, 1961. They were later sealed in the St. George Temple on June 18, 1966.
For the first year of their marriage, they lived in the basement of Spilsbury Mortuary. Garry was a mortuary transporter. Shortly after this, Garry began working as a heavy equipment operator for Leon Glazier. He spent the next 8 years learning to work heavy equipment as he worked alongside Leon. He became a master at working heavy equipment.
In 1970, he began working at Sunset Canyon Ranch as a ranch hand. He often commented that this was his dream job because he had a deep love for horses and ranching. While working there, he even got to play a small role in the movie, “Trap on Cougar Mountain.”
In 1977, he began working for the City of Hurricane. He spent 30 years serving the Hurricane community as a Heavy Equipment Operator in the Street Department. He was often complimented by his coworkers on his skills and talent. He retired in April 2007.
Throughout his life, Garry’s love of horses and ranching developed into a partnership of JBL Ranches with his brothers-in-law and close cousin. This partnership developed into a lifelong friendship he always cherished.
Garry spent his retirement taking care of cows on his ground in Virgin, gardening and doting over his many grandkids, daughters and loving wife. Garry will be remembered for patience, kindness and love. Though Garry will be greatly missed, his legacy of service and devotion will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.
He is survived by his wife Vondell Lee Barrick; eight daughters: Joanna (Doug) Messerly, Jan (Manny) Quintanilla, Sharon (Hien) Ha, Gail (Clay) Campbell, Jackie Bustios, Shanea (Gary) Reese, Stephany Llewellyn, and Cari (Jordan) Behunin; 20 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; sisters Patricia (Kerry) Gubler and Merridee (Gregg) Gibson. He is preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Dawn Barrick; his brother Craig Barrick; son-in-law Scott Hanson; and two grandchildren: Jayden Llewellyn and Darcie Bringhurst.
Vondell and his daughters would like to convey their deepest appreciation to the Speech Therapy and Neurology staff at St. George Regional Hospital and Intermountain Homecare & Hospice team.
A viewing will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, from 9-10:45 a.m. at the Hurricane Stake Center 677 South 700 West Hurricane, Utah. The funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. The burial will be in the Hurricane City Cemetery.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.