Cecil C. Garland Jr.

1925 - 2014

BORN

1925

DIED

2014

Cecil Garland Obituary

Cecil C. Garland

Callao, Utah —On Mother's day, May 11, 2014, we lost a remarkable, enduring, and unforgettable pioneer.

Cecil Conrad Garland Jr. was born in Cincinnati, OH, to Cecil Conrad Garland Sr. and Bertha Dale on September 7, 1925. After he was born, Cecil moved south and spent most of his youth in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. As a young man, he served in the Air Force during WWII. After discharge, he headed west to Las Vegas, married Barbara Heavin and moved north to Lincoln, MT, where they raised 3 daughters. In 1973, he moved to Callao, UT, to start his life as a rancher. There he married the local "schoolmarm", Annette Hardy, where they embarked on a beautiful adventure together, including the birth of their daughter.

Over the years, Cecil was passionate about many worthy causes. In Lincoln, MT, with other folks, he led the way for the first citizen-initiated wilderness area, the Scapegoat Wilderness. This legacy allows Montana's quiet beauty and grandeur to pass from generation to generation. In Utah/Nevada, he challenged the Air Force's plan to deploy MX missiles in the Great Basin region. He went to work again when they proposed an electronic battlefield over Callao, UT. Finally, as if he hadn't done enough, he teamed up with others in the Great Basin Water Network to protect Snake Valley water from Southern Nevada Water Authority. In honor of all he has done, Cecil was recently inducted into the Montana Outdoor Hall of Fame. This project seeks to recognize those that capture, preserve, and teach their story of restoration and conservation.

He is survived by his wife, Annette; sisters Kathleen and Anne; brother, Jimmy; daughters and spouses: Cecilia and Jim, Teresa and Kevin, Becky and Richard and Bertha Mae and David; grandchildren: Allisun, Marshall, Elizabeth, Hayes, Cole, Abigail, Connor, Madeline, Dalton, and Lorelei; great grandchildren Blaine, Jameson, Ty, Lane, Andrea, Meah, and Layla; his in-laws and numerous nieces and nephews; and his "mejor Amigo", Edwin.

From the Smoky Mountains to the Rocky Mountains, we will miss Cecil, who always had heart-felt words, strong opinions and wisdom of the ages. Cecil painted and wrote poetry. He likely has more in him. They will be transmitted from heaven with "a little bit of the devil."

A celebration of life will be held in Callao, UT, on the weekend of September 6th, 2014. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Montana Wilderness Association, 80 S. Warren St., Helena, MT 59601, online at www.wildmontana.org/donate or the Great Basin Water Network, P.O. Box 75 Baker, NV 89311 online at http://www.greatbasinwaternetwork.org/involved.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Great Falls Tribune on May 15, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Cecil Garland

9 Entries

Mike McDonald

June 13, 2014

We will miss you Cecil. I loved talking to you during the basketball games at West Desert High School. Katie an I greatly enjoyed your words of wisdom each time we ran into you in our lives. Annette, you really lucked out having such a great fellow for so long in your life. Tell Bertha hello and express condolences also. We hope to see you this summer sometime if the stars line up, Annette. Thanks for all you fought for Cecil, you inspired us all, The McDonalds

David Gren

May 19, 2014

My wife and I had the privilege and felt honored to get to know Cecil and Annette. Shortly after meeting him I lost my father, we were very close. Cecil filled that void and now my heart aches again. He treated me like a son as he did so many others. He will be greatly missed, such a great example of what we all should be.

May 17, 2014

Our hearts are sad--So many memories, so many adventures, so much history!-- May Cecil's incredible life be a reminder to us all that one life CAN make a difference. His death is an enormous loss for your family, his many friends, and for our country!
God bless him.
God bless you. and
God bless America!

Love and prayers,
Doug and Susan Getz

May 16, 2014

Cecil was one of a kind and an Icon of Montana History. He will be greatly missed and his saddle will be almost impossible to fill. Montana and the people of America owe him a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. I am sure that he is looking down at us from that great forest in the sky to make sure that we maintain a constant vigil on his Scapegoat Wilderness. Alan and Wanda Kelly.

Nathan, Angela, Enoch, Sammy and Kaia Skoubye

May 15, 2014

What an amazing man. We are so grateful that we were able to partake in his wisdom and his kindness. He was an amazing friend and we will truly miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family especially his lovely wife. We love you.

Scott Lee

May 15, 2014

My thoughts and prayers are with Cecil's family and friends. I did not know Cecil personally but I feel like I have known him for a many years. My love of the Deep Creek Mountains found me driving through Callao and past the Garland ranch many times on camping trips to the “Deeps”. From MX missiles to Southern Nevada water grab, Cecil was an outstanding individual who was not afraid to stand up for family values, the environment, and a way of life that few people understand. He will always be an inspiration.

Mike & Mary K Hagen

May 15, 2014

Our sincere sympathy in your loss. May your memories be happy and carry you through this difficult time.

May 15, 2014

So sorry to hear about Cecil. Our thoughts and prayers to all of the Garland family. We hope that you will find comfort and peace at this time. Tara & Johnny Lytle

Norm Graft

May 15, 2014

I didn't know Cecil personally,but friends were well aquainted with him in Lincoln and the work he did for preservation of wild lands in Montana.Cecil is a real American hero and an irreplaceable loss.Utah could use a lot more of what he was,and alot less of what we have.

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