Gary Lynn Carlson

Gary Lynn Carlson, age 73, passed away July 21, 2023 in Las Vegas Nevada. Gary was born April 15, 1950 in Denver Colorado to Jim and Jennie Carlson. He was one of four children. Gary spent his growing up years in Aurora Colorado. He started taking art lessons at age 9 which started his journey to becoming a talented artist. He was an Eagle Scout and was selected to attend the National Jamboree. He was a devoted piano student for many years.

Gary played the clarinet in junior high and changed to the tenor sax in high school. He performed with the band and the community summer concert series.

Gary loved adventure and had many memorable hunting and fishing experiences with his younger brother JD. He was very curious and loved to explore all the alternate and back roads any time he was driving between Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.

Gary served an LDS mission in the Alaska - British Columbia mission. He attended Ricks College for two years before his mission and studied music and composition. After his mission he attended Brigham Young University majoring in music, composition, and architecture.

Gary met and married his wife Kathy while at BYU. Kathy and Gary were married for 49 years.

Gary started his career to becoming an architect following college by interning with the LDS Church Temples and Special Projects Department. He was employed full time with Temples and Special Projects for many years until he moved to Las Vegas for full-time work as an architect with a local firm.

Gary's many achievements include designs for the remodel of the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, the Washington DC temple visitor center, and the Tahiti and Jordan River LDS temples. He was the major architect for the Denver and Las Vegas LDS temples and contributed designs on 15 other LDS temples. He helped design many local LDS chapels. Gary designed many homes and remodels and churches for other denominations. He also designed the student center at UNLV. Gary designed and oversaw the remodel of the office of former Senator Harry Reid. At the time of his passing, Gary was still working full time and was managing 50 projects.

Gary was a past president of the local chapter of AIA (American Institute of Architects) for professional architects.

Gary loved music and was an organist ever since he was in college. He was willing to play for anyone at any time and he organized and directed multiple choirs.

Gary was gregarious, always smiling, always offering a willing hand. He was very dependable, generous, cheerful, kind, and the hardest worker. He was often the last to person to leave after many events as he wanted to help everyone.

Gary was well loved by his family, including his wife Kathy Oney Carlson. He is survived by two sons, David Carlson and Daniel Carlson (Carolina) and grandchildren Max, Orlando, Jose, Naomi, and Cayden. He is also survived by two sisters Carolyn Keller (Jon) and Janice Robinson (Clyde), and sister-in-law Candy Guymon (Kelly). Gary was preceded in death by his brother JD Carlson and his parents Jim and Jennie Carlson.

Memorial services will be held July 29 at 11 am at the LDS church on 221 Lorenzi St,

Las Vegas. A visitation with the family will be held prior to the services at 9:30 am.

Cremation by Simple Cremations