Douglas Val Garner

Heaven will be a much livelier place with the passing of Doug in the early morning of April 7, 2024. Those of us who he left behind can only imagine the joy and laughter he is experiencing of seeing loved ones who have passed on, especially his loving and caring older sister who, at the age of nine, died after being hit by a drunk driver while she and Doug were walking along the road trick-or-treating on Halloween night. 

Douglas Val Garner was born on September 27, 1949, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, the eldest son of Helen Virginia Leitzell (Garner) and Val Douglas Garner. He grew up in Ammon, Idaho. He graduated from Bonneville High School after serving as Senior Class President, attended Ricks College before his LDS mission, and then graduated from Brigham Young University. 

While on a Ricks College biology field trip to Yellowstone Park, he met Joyce Rigby. They dated a short time before he served a 2-1/2 year mission to Finland, reunited after his service and were married on December 23, 1971, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. 

They lived in Provo, Utah, where their first two daughters were born, until Doug finished his political science degree, and then moved to Rexburg, Idaho. There he owned a carpet and interior decorating business that was a great resource for those individuals affected by the Teton Dam Flood. With his entrepreneurial spirit, Doug and Joyce moved their family to Meridian, Idaho, where he worked in insurance focusing on estate planning with Eastern Idaho farmers. They then ventured to Missoula, Montana, for Doug to become an Allstate District Sales Manager. Wanting to return to their roots, their last move was to Centerville, Utah, where they built a home, and Doug became the manager of a North American commercial carpet business located in Bountiful, Utah. With his leadership, the business acquired, successfully developed, and grew accounts with the LDS Church and the State of Utah. After retirement, he bought two buildings on Main Street in Bountiful to house and sell his vast supply of antiques, which he had acquired for many years.  

Antiques were his passion—collecting, selling, and refinishing them. He could reclaim broken-down item of furniture that most people would discard into like-new condition. Using  his hands to work with wood was very therapeutic for him. He was always thrilled when his children would decorate their homes with his works of art!

Doug and Joyce traveled the world for pleasure and Doug for work, which led him to an experience in South Africa that changed his life. After he visited the squatter camps in Johannesburg, he returned home with a very determined resolve that he needed to help those less fortunate, and he took this seriously! He was known for his generosity and sincere interest in people. He loved visiting with people wherever he traveled, or at home, and after learning of their situation, those individuals were blessed by his association. He also had such a great sense of humor and was a talented storyteller endearing people to him who never forgot his captivating experiences.

Doug had many health problems, principally as the result of diabetes. Through it all, he just kept working extremely hard. He was a caring boss to his employees always making sure they were able to take care of their families, many times giving them money out of his own pocket.

Doug would want to be most remembered for being a faithful member of the LDS church his entire life and being a loving, devoted, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He passionately loved his family, especially the babies.  

He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce; 7 children—Michele (Brian) Lake of Eagle, Idaho; Camille (Scott) Jones of Bountiful, Utah; Jennifer (Sabe) Anderson of Highland, Utah; Tom (Hillary) Garner of Farmington, Utah; Andrea (Matthew) Ekins of St. George, Utah; Ashley (Adam) Hyde of Bremerton, Washington; Heather (Ryan) Williams of Ammon, Idaho; 30 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his 3 siblings—Leslee (Mike) Freeman, Blair (Debra) Garner, and Scott (Sydney) Garner. 

The family wishes to thank the wonderful caregivers at Intermountain Medical Center, Encompass Rehabilitation Center, and Renew Home Health and Hospice, especially Tammy Goodwin. 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the 6th Ward Chapel, 900 South 400 East, Centerville, Utah. The family will receive friends Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main, Bountiful, Utah, and again from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Saturday at the 6th Ward Chapel prior to services. 

Make a big bowl of Carmel corn, throw a blanket on the floor, and watch a movie with your family. That’s what Doug did with his kids every Sunday night!!!

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below.