Garland Dingus Lafferty

Garland “Gar” D. Lafferty, 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Gilbert, Arizona, on the morning of April 16, 2025. Born on August 13, 1946, in Sloan, Kentucky, Gar lived a life full of dedication, love, and quiet strength.

The son of James and Wilma (Conley) Lafferty, Gar grew up with strong family values that would guide him throughout his life. He attended Belleville High School and called Belleville, Michigan, home for over 35 years before retiring to Arizona.

Gar shared 58 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Rosemary (Schaerer) Lafferty. Together, they built a beautiful life and raised two children, Melissa (Samuel) Lafferty Crawford and Garland Jeffrey (Tamra) Lafferty. Gar was a proud and loving grandfather to seven grandchildren: Samantha (T.J.) Mangione, Shelby (Bodey) Delmar, Sydney (Dom) Lowe, Skye (James) Milano, Clint (Samantha) Lafferty, Kiley Lafferty, and Aubrie Lafferty, and a great-grandfather to seven great-grandchildren: Matthew and Cooper Mangione; Scarlet Delmar; and Harden and London Lowe. Gar also had two bonus great-grandchildren Zaira Mangione and Brixtyn Delmar.

He is also survived by his siblings, Lloyd (Diane) Lafferty, Walter (Tuesday) Lafferty, and Katherine Lafferty Phillips, as well as his sister-in-law Joy Tyler, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Gar proudly served in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division, 327th Infantry. He was deployed to Vietnam, where he served for 13 months, and was honorably discharged in July 1966. That same month, he began a career with Ford Motor Company which he later retired from after 30 years. Never one to sit still, Gar also worked part-time with Home Depot and Rolling Plains Construction.

Gar had a passion for sports and community. He played on the Ford softball team and found joy in coaching and cheering on his children. He loved the outdoors—spending time at his cabin in Big Rapids, Michigan, hunting, fishing, golfing, and walking in the woods. A skilled craftsman, he enjoyed woodworking and created beautiful furniture for his family that will be treasured for generations.

At the heart of Gar’s life was his love for God and his family. He lived with humility, led by example, and left behind a legacy of kindness, strength, and devotion.

Gar’s life was honored with a heartfelt eulogy by his daughter Melissa Crawford and prayers led by Samuel Crawford. He was laid to rest on April 25, 2025, at Mariposa Gardens in Mesa, Arizona.

Though he has left this world, Gar's spirit will continue to live on through the love he gave, the memories he created, and the lives he touched.

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