Gary Grant McGiven 7/12/1943 ~ 8/17/2011
Gary Grant McGiven, age 48, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2011 in LaPine, Oregon.He was born July 12, 1943 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Grant and Beatrice Child McGiven. He was a graduate of Mt. View High School in Mountain View, CA., and Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. Gary married his high school sweetheart, Susan Linda White, on June 11, 1966, in the Oakland, California Temple and together they had eight children. Gary and Sue raised their family first in San Jose, California, where he was a deputy sheriff with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department. The family moved in 1979 to Orem, Utah. Gary's first job there was Chief of Police in the town of Santaquin. He later joined the Orem City Police Department. He served the citizens of Orem for more than 22 years as a patrol officer, a detective and retiring as patrol sergeant. Gary treasured people and he was always willing to help wherever needed. There were four loves in Gary's life; his family, law enforcement, sports and Ireland, where he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed sports of all kinds and being in the outdoors. While he relished participating in sports particularly golf, nothing could compare to the thrill he experienced when he watched one of his eight children compete. He was often seen on the sidelines at Mountain View High School football games and wrestling matches cheering on his sons, or watching his daughters play softball from a squad car. And there was never a father more proud than when his son and namesake, Gary Patrick, made the BYU football team and his other son Kevin, worked as a graduate assistant with the coaching staff. Gary had a very successful career and he was a loving husband and father. But his greatest role in life was that of GRANDPA. Nobody made him smile bigger or laugh harder than his grandchildren; he simply adored each one. He would always greet them with a big hug, a pocket full of quarters and a stash of candy. He is a hero to not only his children and grandchildren but many other young people who crossed his path. Gary is survived by his loving wife, Susan, their children: Holley (Dane) Berry, Julie (Adam) Weight, Sean McGiven, Steven McGiven, Kevin (Lindsay) McGiven, Kelly (John) Boyle, Gary (Katie) McGiven and Ryan (Sarah) McGiven and his 20 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Mary Jeanne (Cliff) Johnson and his brother Fred (Ellen) McGiven and numerous nieces and nephews. A viewing will be held on Thursday August 25, 2001 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Riverwood Ward, Edgemont Stakelocated at 303 West 3700 North, Provo, Utah. The funeral services will be on Friday August 26, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the sameRiverwood Ward in Provo where the Friday viewing will be from 9:30 to 10:40 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will be in the Orem City Cemetery.