Gary Irvin Anderson

At 8:15am on June 20th, 2025 an avid outdoorsman passed away peacefully with family by his side. Gary Irvin Anderson was born February 8th, 1934 to Irvin Heber Anderson and Dixie Doolittle Anderson. He had two sisters, Dixie and Sue, and grew up in the Foothill area of Salt Lake City. As a child, Gary spent time raising homing pigeons and roaming the hills near their home with his dog.

Gary attended East High School & The University of Utah and served in the Air Force.

He worked at Hercules for many years until his retirement and was very proud of his work as a project manager on various aerospace projects.

Gary married Denece Rice on June 2nd, 1978 and became stepfather to her children, Kathleen, Joni, Mike and Jeff. He and Denece enjoyed traveling and hosting family and friend get-togethers in their home, but Gary’s greatest passion was the outdoors. He loved flyfishing in Island Park, ID; hunting with his dog, Mill Creek Meg, his friend, Andy, and Andy’s dog, Emma; and wolf-watching in Yellowstone, all of which he continued to do into his later years. When he could no longer participate in his beloved activities he reminisced about his adventures, including time spent camping and fishing with his parents as a child, and deer hunting with his dad as a young man. He is survived by his stepchildren, five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter and one on the way, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his wife, parents, sisters, brother-in-law, Tom, and great-granddaughter, Jasmin.

The family would like to express appreciation to Sunrise of Sandy for the loving care provided to Gary over the last nearly 3 years.

A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at Larkin Sunset Gardens. The gravesite is a short distance east of 1700 East at the south end of the cemetery.