June 14, 1936-July 12, 2024
Roger John Connole, age 88, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2024, in St. George, Utah, with loved ones at his side. He was born on June 14, 1936, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Arthur M. Connole and Ruth Cox Connole.
Roger attended Judge Memorial, East High School and the University of Utah. He retired from the Salt Lake Police Dept. after 25 years of service. He is a Korean Veteran, retired Army and was in the Utah National Guard for a total of 27 years of military service.
He married Gayle Phibbs and they had four children: Roger Scott (Mary) Connole, Marie (Greg) Corlin, Christopher Connole and Michael Connole. They later divorced and married Barbara Baumgartner. Roger is survived by his four children, and his wife and her son Steven Baumgartner. He is also survived by his siblings: Arthur (Mac) Connole, John Connole and Sue Robinson; and grandchildren Sarrah and Nick, Patrick, Andrew (Scott), Tiffany and Sean (Marie), Ian (Chris) and Tyler Baumgartner (Steve), as well as several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by parents Art and Ruth, brother Paul Connole, sister-in-law Judy Connole and stepdaughter Nicole Six.
Roger was always at home in the great outdoors and we were blessed with many opportunities to experience and learn during various outdoor pursuits. We enjoyed frequent family campouts and fishing while he was a ranger at East Canyon Reservoir. We leased and operated Defa’s Dude Ranch as a family on the beautiful North Fork of the Duchesne River in the 70s. He enjoyed taking us snowmobiling and horseback riding in the High Uintahs, in ALL conditions Mother Nature presented! He supported our BMX racing in the surrounding states for a number of years. The BMX Track is where Roger and Barbara met, and Roger also lived a freewheeling lifestyle for a number of years, traveling the Western U.S. with his wife Barbara in their fifth wheel trailer, eventually settling in St George. He continued the outdoor adventures up until 2023. RIP Father.
A memorial gathering and luncheon in St. George will take place on Aug. 12 at Pine Valley Reservoir group site at 11 a.m., entrance fees waived. Graveside services will take place at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Salt Lake City on Aug. 19 at 11 a.m., located at the Salt Lake City Cemetery 275 U Street.
Our family would like to thank Summit Home Health & Hospice for the professional and compassionate care Roger received over the months. Namely Dr. Janie, Paula, Kami and all of the staff who had such a positive impact on his care.
Arrangements are under the direction of McArthur Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 160 West 700 South, St. George, 435-652-2844. Family and friends are invited to click here to sign Roger’s online guest book.