Harvey Leon Gardner

Harvey Leon Gardner, 93, passed away on the morning of April 11, 2025. He left this life peacefully in his home in Orem, Utah, with his sweetheart of 73 years, Darlene, holding his hand, and with his children at his bedside.

Harvey was born in Lakeside, Arizona on January 9, 1932, to Ralph Harvey Gardner and Helene Fish. He weighed in at almost twelve pounds and bragged that he was always "twice too heavy for my britches." He started working in the lumber business when he was ten years old. He loved football and moved in with his grandparents in Mesa so he could play for Coach Mutt Ford and the Mesa High School Jackrabbits, winning several state championships. At 20 years old, he volunteered to be the first coach for his hometown football team. Reflecting on the first game he recalled, "The people in the stands were roaring with laughter when we came out…it looked like it was going to be a slaughter, but we were enthusiastic and tough as nails." Lakeside won 44-12. They were for real. He has often said that his most fervent prayers have been for a first down.

It was truly love at first sight when Harvey met Darlene Earl. She was the new girl in town and they became high school sweethearts. He often said he loved her so much he could hardly breathe. They married on December 19, 1951, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. In 1952, he enlisted in the Seabees, the construction battalion of the U.S. Navy and served with them during the Korean War and afterwards until 1956, making stops in the Philippines, Alaska, and Japan during his service. The "old boilermaker" (as he liked to call himself) had become a skilled welder with the Seabees and took a job on the Glen Canyon Dam construction project creating beautiful Lake Powell. He and Darlene settled and raised their family in the adjacent fledgling town of Page, Arizona, becoming some of its earliest founding citizens. They were pillars of the community there for many years.

In Page he started several small businesses including a dairy distribution, a steakhouse, an ice company, and his greatest business success: Page Steel. From humble scrappy beginnings, he grew it into a major supplier and fabricator in the western U.S. His son Doug ran the business during Harvey's "retirement years", but Harvey remained steadfast on his forklift at Page Steel well into his 70's. However, he had resigned himself to only working half days – 6am to 6pm. He used to say that he was over 100 years old, with all the double shifts he had worked.

He dedicated his life to serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He knew and loved the Savior deeply and he heeded His admonition to 'go forth'. He served in many callings from deacons quorum president to bishop, stake president of the Page Arizona Stake (1977-1984), regional representative, mission president in the New Zealand Wellington Mission (1992-1995), and an Area Authority Seventy.

He had a fierce love for the Lamanites. He drove thousands of rugged miles in his truck ministering to them in their homes on the reservation. He encouraged them, rejoiced and wept with them, and was beloved by them. Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said of Harvey, "If you have need of counsel or information regarding the Navajo people, there is one man who knows more about them than any non-Native American I am aware of…He is a 'been there–done that' old timer…He is my longtime friend." He was a generous donor to American Indian Services, providing many scholarships.

He treasured the people of New Zealand and the missionaries with whom he served. He cared immensely about their lives and held regular reunions to stay in touch. Some visited on the tender day of his passing and heard him speak the words one last time: "The Standard of Truth has been erected".

Harvey believed that everyone has four great hungers: to be loved, appreciated, trusted, and understood. He loved relentlessly and taught that "there is no defense against love." He was determined to affect positive outcomes for himself and others – there were no passive bones in his body. He was a master at mixing humor and heart-warming personal experiences with gospel principles. The scriptures were his constant companion. Etched in his memory with profound clarity, he had a verse ready for recitation for any occasion, and his love for the hymns and the word of God were contagious. He was joyful, he "lifted up the hands that hang down", and he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ naturally and with sweet boldness – he feared no man.

Wisely, he recognized the value of his many difficult days and tough jobs and the lessons and growth that came from them. He expressed gratitude and awe for "more than [his] fair share of perfect days". Some of his "perfect days" were family weddings, missionary farewells and homecomings, 4th of July celebrations, Christmas Eves reciting Luke 2, watching his grandkids build a 30-foot snowman who they affectionately named "Harvey," "Big House" family reunions where his children and grandchildren played, laughed, and crafted under one roof, and any day that BYU won a big game.

Generosity was his calling card and he expressed it in many signature forms. Thousands of people in the stakes he visited as an Area Authority heeded his challenge to memorize the Family Proclamation and were gifted CTR tie tacks, pendants, and pocket knives. He took thousands of photos and loved to print them in large formats and include handwritten notes on them. Every Christmas for over 60 years, his neighbors could expect a hand-delivered box of oranges, and making the deliveries became a cherished family tradition. He took his family out to lunch and dinner often. He never gambled a nickel in his life, but he was a high roller at the restaurant table and got a kick out of delighting servers with hundred dollar bills for tips. Luke 6:38 was a North Star for him, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

He will be remembered forever as a devoted husband, a dedicated and loving father and grandfather, a patriot, a faithful priesthood holder, and a warrior for truth who was valiant in the testimony of Jesus.

He is survived by his precious wife Darlene Earl, and his seven beloved children Lisa (Todd) Roeller, Aven Gardner, Doug (Sherri) Gardner, David (Becky Kaverman) Gardner, Karen (Mark) Madsen, Jan Gardner, Jill (James) Durrant. His 28 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren were blessed to be showered by his unfailing love, encouragement, gifts, and family adventures.

He was welcomed home by his parents Ralph Harvey Gardner and Helene Fish, and his siblings Pearl, Nina, Duane, George, Ida May, Sherry, and Glen.