Ralph Gant

1935 - 2025

Ralph Gant

1935-2025

In loving memory of Ralph Wesley Gant

Rest in peace – we shall soon be together again

Ralph Wesley Gant, age 89, our beloved husband, dad, grandpa, and grandpapa left this earthly realm to join his parents and daughter on November 7, 2025, due to complications after surgery. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. He rose from very humble beginnings to become an educated and compassionate counselor, not only to his patients, but to anyone who needed help. A bright and guiding light has left us and will be sorely missed by all those who loved him.

Ralph was born in Attala County, Mississippi, on December 15, 1935, to James Wesley Gant and Florence Olivia Butler. His mother passed away when he was 14 months old and much of his growing up was spent with his paternal grandmother in a very poor, rural area of Mississippi. He left school after the ninth grade and worked odd jobs trying to bring in extra money to his family for food. It was not surprising to him that at the age of 16 he found himself homeless. He was able to get a room in a boarding house, obtained work in a garage, and sold shoes door to door until he turned 17. On his 17th birthday, he enlisted in the Navy.

Also at age 16, Ralph joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As he entered into the service, he was grateful for the fellow church members he met in the Navy. Their associations developed into life-long friendships. During his first two years, he was able to obtain his GED. Also much of the training he received earned him college credit. He was finally assigned to a patrol training squadron and spent many hours in a bomber patrolling about 200 miles off the Atlantic coast.

Upon completion of his tour of duty he answered the call to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After he completed his mission, he moved to Utah and started school at the Brigham Young University. After two years of schooling he enlisted in an Intelligence Division of the Army.

Following a rigorous course of French at the Presidio in Monterey, California, he was stationed in Germany for one and a half years where he also learned German. Later in his life he joined the Army National Guard and the Army Reserves. Ralph was very patriotic. He loved this country and all that it stood for. He always had a flag outside his front door. There were flag stickers on his car. He was a proud American.

When he returned to the United States he continued his schooling at Brigham Young University and received his Bachelors and Master's Degrees there. It was while he was going to school at the "Y" that he met and married his wife, Sandy, for time and all eternity in the Manti Temple. During those years he often worked two different part time jobs every day in order to pay his way through school.

After completing his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at Brigham Young University, he enrolled at the University of Utah where he ultimately obtained a PhD in Psychology. After graduating he began his career teaching psychology at Granite High School. From there he became: Assistant Dean of Students at the Utah Technical College; a Rehabilitation Counselor at the State Board of Education; a Project Director at Utah State University for Native American Tribal Leaders; director for another nationwide program for instructing State Welfare Agencies in implementing Section 504; and eventually opened his own private practice where he counseled and did testing for many patients. His goal in life was to be of service to others. He retired after more than 40 years.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). Ralph was one of the most compassionate men in his field. He loved and cared about all of his patients, and would continue to treat those who could not pay or who did not have insurance. To his dying day, he had former patients calling just to talk to him and see how he was.

In his retirement he was finally able to practice his love of gardening, reading, attending the Temple, composing poetry, taking day trips with his wife, and was always looking for someone to help.

He never turned down an opportunity to be with his family. Family get-togethers were a highlight for him. He believed that the most important things in life were family and church. He had a wonderful sense of humor that would always brighten our family activities. He would say something droll and witty and then sit there without a hint of a smile on his face. He was a fastidious dresser and loved a shine on his shoes. In fact, anytime a family member came to visit he would offer to polish their shoes. He will be greatly missed at our family events.

In his younger life he, by necessity, learned to be a hard worker and that stayed with him all through his life. Ralph had a voracious love of learning that often focused on religious history and scripture study. However, it didn't matter what subject you wanted to discuss, religion, geography, geology, etc., he could almost always come up with a bit of information about it. He was known as the "Master of Tidbit Information" to his family.

After a lifetime of striving to always be a better man and a better disciple of Christ we can trust that "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Mathew 25:21).

Ralph is survived by his wife, Sandra Barnett Gant, his children Heidi Aeschbacher (Markus), Erik Gant (Margo), Michelle Clark (Travis), Geoffrey Gant, and Amy Ekins. He was preceded in death by his daughter Lisa House (Thomas), and his brother Randy Gant (Jerri). He also leaves behind 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held on Friday, November 14th, 2025, from 10:00-11:00 am at the Little Cottonwood 12th Ward, 6180 South Glenoaks, Murray, Utah. with service to follow at 11:30 am. Interment will be in the Payson City Cemetery, Payson, Utah.

Webcasting and more information can be found on his memorial page at https://jenkins-soffe.com/obituaries/ralph-gant.