Dorothy June McGarry

Dorothy June Evans McGarry passed away peacefully on November 28, 2023 at the age of 95. She was born on January 13, 1928 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Thelma Anderson and Hyrum Evans. She was the older sister to Melvin Evans.

Dorothy loved life. In her youth, she was an excellent dancer. She loved her recitals and entertaining others with her talents. She also played the violin. When Dorothy was in middle school her mother got tuberculosis. She put family first (something that would continue throughout her life) and would walk back and forth to school every day during lunch to take care of her mother’s needs. This continued through her high school years and her talents and hobbies took a backseat to caring for her mother.

After graduating from Granite High School, she continued taking care of her family while she worked at the Belvedere Store in downtown Salt Lake.

On October 8, 1954 she married Dexter McGarry. They were married for 47 years until he passed away in 1997. She loved playing golf, bowling, snow skiing, and traveling with her husband. She was a University of Utah, Utes “Superfan” and loved going to the football games.

As they had their three children, (Kelleen, Erin, and Shawn) and then grandchildren joined the family, Dorothy’s legacy of service and love continued.

Dorothy truly loved being the fun grandma. Whether it was taking kids out of school early to get lunch, go bowling and play video games, riding the scariest roller coasters, whitewater rafting (at 80), filling the bathtub with chocolate pudding or slowing her car so the grandchildren could launch spit wads out the windows, she wasn’t just a participant, she was the ringleader.

She was positive and optimistic, seemingly never having a bad day. She loved to smile and laugh. She cared more about making others happy, comfortable, and confident, than herself. To this day, her children have an overinflated view of themselves because she never saw them as anything other than beautiful, handsome, intelligent, and great.

She mourned injustice, discrimination and hate. She taught her children by example, words and deeds to love and accept everyone without judgement. It was said about her, that she was the most Christ-like and kind person that you could ever meet.

Even in the days before her death, although struggling she never complained and never stopped smiling. She will be missed mightily, but leaves a legacy of kindness, love, and happiness. Truly, a life well-lived.

She is survived by her three children; Kelleen Leslie (Fred), Erin Schroeder (Rod) and Shawn McGarry. 13 Grandchildren and 19 Greatgrandchildren were lucky enough to call her grandma.

She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

A visitation service will be held Sunday, December 3rd, 2023 from 5-7 at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Dr, Millcreek, UT.