Gary Ray Holyoak

Born: 6/1/1938, Moab, Utah
Death: 1/19/2018, Moab, Utah
Viewing: 01/25/2018, 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Service: 01/26/2018, 11:00 am, Moab LDS Stake Center
Interment: 01/26/2018, 12:30 pm, Grand Valley Cemetery

Gary was a true son of the Moab Valley having been born in Moab on June 1, 1938. He was the first son of Ray Holyoak and Ruth Holyoak (Guymon), descendants of Utah pioneers who made their living ranching and farming the red Moab soil. Gary grew up ranching and farming with his father, and his three siblings who survive him, Glen Holyoak, Ronald Holyoak and Mary Engleman. Gary graduated from Grand County High School in 1956 where he played on the Red Devil's basketball team. He began working at Atlas Minerals, where he would work for the next 28 years. In August 1958 he met the love of his life Patricia Holyoak (Hyita). They married on Oct. 1, 1960, and they were later sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti Temple. They were married for 57 years when Gary passed. Gary and Patricia had the type of lifetime romance that few can ever dream of today, and they were together until the very last moment.

Gary and Patricia are the parents of seven children, grandparents of twenty-two grandchildren, and great-grandparents of nine great-grandchildren. Gary was like a father and grandfather to so many in addition to his own family.

Gary is preceded in death by his son, Clynn Robert Holyoak, his granddaughter Kensey Rae Wells and grandson Carson John Ballard.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Holyoak, and his children: Jamie Rue Robinson (Robert Robinson), Kammy Rae Wells (Dennis Wells), Ryan Gary Holyoak (Monica Holyoak), Kelsie Patricia Backus (Brian Backus), Amber Lee Spence (Murray Spence) and Dalin Riley Holyoak. He also raised two nieces, and is survived by Diana Kay Hyita Ralston (Cecil Ralston) and preceded in death by Cindy Lee Hyita.

Gary continued the career in uranium that he had begun at Atlas Minerals, by later working at the Energy Fuels White Mesa Mill (the only remaining conventional uranium mill in the United States) from 1986 until he retired as a mill supervisor in 2000. Despite working full-time at the Atlas and White Mesa mills, Gary was also a rancher and a farmer his entire life. He found peace, pride and joy in growing alfalfa on the Flat Ranch. He also taught his children, grandchildren, and countless others the inestimable value of a simple, honest day of hard work. In addition to his love of family, he loved hunting, farming, gardening, recreational softball, church basketball, and Red Devil football. As each of his children and grandchildren can attest, he rarely missed a game and he took great pride and joy in his posterity on the field. He won trophies in archery and would rarely go a season without bringing home a buck or an elk. He was devoted to his faith and served in many callings for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including: ward clerk for several bishoprics, high priest group leader, teacher, and was in the Sunday School presidency. Gary was a shining example of stewardship, purity of heart, and working until the task is complete. He took so much pride in his family, he loved Moab unconditionally and he will be deeply missed by all.

There will be a viewing for Gary Ray Holyoak on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Spanish Valley Mortuary, located at 386 North 100 West in Moab. The funeral will be on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, with a viewing at 10 a.m. and service to follow at 11 a.m. Both will be at Moab LDS Stake Center, located at 701 Locust Lane in Moab. The interment will be Jan. 26, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. at the Grand Valley Cemetery.

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