Gary Allen Purse

              “This world is full of splendor and magic. We simply have to lift our vision above the din of negativity,                                            and we will see the world in all its glory with God at the helm.”

Gary Allen Purse, age 67, passed away on November 22, 2025, at his home in Spanish Fork, Utah, surrounded by his family.

Gary was born on October 12, 1958, in Denver, Colorado, to Melvin Gary Purse and Valerie Ann Hutchison (née Janes). He spent his teenage years in Fairfax, Virginia, where he graduated from high school and went on to attend Virginia Tech University. While at Virginia Tech, he was introduced to the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while accompanying a friend to the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center. He was soon baptized into the Church and later transferred to Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. Gary paused his studies to serve a Spanish-speaking mission in New York City, where he developed a lasting enthusiasm for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

While completing his studies at BYU, Gary met the love of his life, Martha Jane Campbell, on May 8, 1983. He was teaching a Sunday school class she attended, and their conversation afterward led him to offer to walk her home. They were sealed for time and all eternity on August 23, 1983, in the Washington D.C. Temple, and together they built a family of five children and eleven grandchildren over forty-two wonderful years. His family was the great pride and joy of his life.

Gary devoted more than thirty years of his professional life to teaching for the Church’s Educational System. He began as a seminary teacher in Cody, Wyoming, while earning his master’s degree, before pursuing a PhD in Rhetorical Theory and Criticism at Ohio University. He continued his PhD studies while teaching institute classes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before accepting a position as a professor of religion at Ricks College (later BYU–Idaho) in Rexburg, Idaho, in 1997. During his twenty-five years at BYU–Idaho, Gary was a beloved professor, club advisor, and meditation coach to thousands of students. He taught courses in religion, Eastern philosophy, and classic literature with a trademark effervescence and insight. His infectious love of learning, sense of humor, and unique gospel perspectives led to his remarkable ability to connect with young adults and others wherever his career or church callings took him.

Gary’s academic career opened the door to one of his greatest joys—world travel. His first trip to Europe in 2000 sparked a lifelong love of exploring different cultures and peoples. His travels took him to India, Israel, Egypt, Ecuador, Peru, and many European countries. He especially cherished the English countryside and his trips to Italy. One of his favorite professional experiences abroad was presenting his work entitled “Buddha Wasn't a Buddhist: Release Is Peace” at the University of Oxford’s Symposium on Religious Studies. Gary loved the performing arts, and some of his happiest times were at theatre productions on Broadway and London’s West End. Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera were particular repeat favorites.

After retiring from teaching in 2021, Gary found that he could not stay away from the classroom for long. He and Martha applied to be service missionaries in Laie, Oahu, where Gary taught religion classes at BYU–Hawaii from January 2024 to April 2025. During this time, he taught hundreds of additional students and continued to share his testimony of Jesus Christ—even as the symptoms of his illness began to appear. Serving alongside Martha brought him profound joy.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Melvin Gary Purse (1936–2021) and Valerie Ann Hutchison (1938–2020). He is survived by his wife, Martha; his children Nicholas Purse (Tamara), Natalie Nygren (Dave), Rachel Purse, Kaitlin Millard (Kenny), and Rebecca Ballard (Tom); and his eleven cherished grandchildren—seven grandsons and four granddaughters—each of whom brought him immeasurable joy. He is also survived by his sisters, Stacey Oswalt and Mollie Carman (Bill).

Gary will be remembered for his unwavering faith, his love of learning, his kindness, his humor, his devotion to his family, and his unshakable testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. He wrote:

"Jesus is the absolute difference maker. His life, sufferings, joys, death, and resurrection are what point to, and witness of, something joyously more than grind-it-out-purposeless-mortality followed by death and extinction!

He lived, died, and was resurrected. We therefore live, die, and are resurrected.

He makes all joy, progress, love, understanding, and every noble and praiseworthy thing possible.

Without Him, there would be extinction... no creation in the first place!

With Him we can and do live more abundantly."

Gary's influence and testimony will continue to bless the generations that follow him.

His life will be celebrated with a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. on December 27, 2025, at 3477 E River Bottoms Rd, Spanish Fork, UT 84660.

To leave condolences, visit www.legacyfunerals.com