ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our beloved father, grandfather, friend and hero, Gary Miner, 78 years old.  Gary passed away peacefully at home on September 11, 2020 following a long battle with brain cancer. He passed surrounded by a lifetime of artistic creations and loving family. His sense of humor intact, he charmed visitors until the very end. We will remember him forever.

We will gather for a memorial service in Fairview, Utah on September 26th from 1:00 pm to celebrate his life and give thanks for the many ways in which he touched us and left this world a better and more beautiful place. (Venue TBD).  Following his interment in the upper Fairview Cemetery family and friends are invited to join a traditional Miner Family picnic and campfire sharing stories and memories of his life. Picnic will be held at the former home of his parents Parker and Mae Miner at 46 North 100 East in Fairview.
September 25, 2020
September 25, 2020
The Kuwana Family sends our deepest condolences to the Miner family on their loss. While we never had the honor of meeting Mr. Gary Miner, through his son, Allen, we know that he was a man of true character and integrity. May he rest in peace.
September 22, 2020
September 22, 2020
Our deepest condolences to the Miner family. May you find peace at this difficult time. We are honored to donate to the good people at the Happy Factory in Mr. Miner's name.
September 19, 2020
September 19, 2020
One of greatest Provo Police Officers I had the opportunity to work with. He was so talented in so many areas of law enforcement and beyond. I was grateful to be able to say my goodby to him a few weeks ago. Godspeed G. Miner. Prayers to Dawn and family.
September 13, 2020
September 13, 2020
This is the grandad I want to remember. He worked hard, did a little extra, joked, teased, created, supported.

He refinshed an old piano, destined for the dump, into the beauty that I learned to play on. He drove across country and just walked into Anthony's Thesis show as a surprise, to show his pride and support for our family. He always had a magic trick for Gabe, oftentimes letting him in on the secret. He taught Gabe to draw and how to mow their lawn.

He fiddled with his fingers when he listened to you talk. He said "harse" instead of "horse". He had the memory of an elephant and had to tell the story "right". He would push the cats ears back sooo far til it's eyes got all squinty. He tunneled thru the overgrowth so we could have a secret Hogwarts fort as kids. He threw me up in the air as a baby so high my head whacked the ceiling fan. He took us to Hercules on ice and drowned us in candy. He had us hike a volcano. He caught tarantulas and killed rattlesnakes. He was an artist and created intricately carved clocks and woodwork, pysanky eggs, paintings, and drawings.

I want to remember not just memories but his quirks. The things that made him grandpa. The way he held his hands and pointed at things. His soft voice muttering a joke under his breath. That look on his face when Nana said something he thought was incorrect lol. He had a quiet smirk and a grin and a good tease for everyone.

I'm relieved he has been relesed from the pains and confines of the brain tumor. My heart goes out to my Nana, my dad, and my family. I can't wait to see him again on the other side.
September 11, 2020
September 11, 2020
I will miss Gary's wonderful sense of humor and smile. I'm grateful for the technology that allowed us to share a little in the last couple of months. He'll be missed.
September 11, 2020
September 11, 2020
Was able to be with him almost till the end. It was difficult to watch him go, but I'm glad he is at peace now.

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Recent Tributes
September 25, 2020
September 25, 2020
The Kuwana Family sends our deepest condolences to the Miner family on their loss. While we never had the honor of meeting Mr. Gary Miner, through his son, Allen, we know that he was a man of true character and integrity. May he rest in peace.
September 22, 2020
September 22, 2020
Our deepest condolences to the Miner family. May you find peace at this difficult time. We are honored to donate to the good people at the Happy Factory in Mr. Miner's name.
September 19, 2020
September 19, 2020
One of greatest Provo Police Officers I had the opportunity to work with. He was so talented in so many areas of law enforcement and beyond. I was grateful to be able to say my goodby to him a few weeks ago. Godspeed G. Miner. Prayers to Dawn and family.
His Life

Key Life Events, Hobbies and Interests

September 11, 2020
Gary lived on and worked the Miner family farm in Fairview, Utah until 1959 when he moved to Salt Lake City to attend Utah Technical College. It was in Salt Lake City that he met Dawn and they were married on June 2nd 1960. They moved back to Fairview where he once again worked the Family Farm and also got a job digging ditches for Mountain Fuel. In 1963 they moved to Provo where he began working as a Police Officer. He retired from the police department in 1984 and got a job as the Manager of the Provo Police and Fire Department Credit Union. He managed the Credit Union until 1999 when he retired and moved to Diamond Valley, Utah. He spent his initial retirement years upgrading their property "Deer Haven" into what became a Family Resort Property where several family reunions, weddings, cousins camps and celebrations were held. In 2012, they moved to a smaller home which was easier to physically maintain in Washington City. 
He was always developing and improving his artistic talents. He had created several oil and acrylic paintings and even served as a forensic artist for the Provo Police department, He restored several antiques from pianos and foot pump organs and an Edison Record player. He mastered the art of building wood Nut-Crackers which were in such demand by family and friends that he eventually saw their creation as more of a job than an enjoyable hobby. A similar problem occurred with his Scroll-Cut Clocks which were amazing in both detail and design. He would frequently become so good at a specific type of artwork or craft that he would make and give them away to family and friends because he enjoyed making them. Eventually he would become overwhelmed and would sometimes just stop all work of a specific type of art, for example after making about 20 to 30 scroll clocks for family and friends he stopped in the middle of building two clocks in 1998 and he did not work on these or any other scroll clocks for about 10-12 more years when one of his grand-children asked him to teach them how make a scroll cut clock. This request got him restarted and not only did he teach them how to build Scroll Cut clocks he completed the two clocks he had started years before and then began building more and more clocks which he did not stop making until he was physically unable to do the precise cutting that was needed. His pysanka eggs (Ukrainian Easter Eggs) are another example of his artistic talent he has made hundreds of these and has given most of them to family and friends. One of his most endearing qualities was his ability to find humor in just about anything. Even as he was bed ridden in his fight with brain cancer he would frequently make jokes and find ways to laugh at his difficult circumstances.
Recent stories

Grandad's letter of advice

September 12, 2020
Grandad's letter of advice
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When my son was baptized I asked his grandparents and great grandparents to write a letter of advice to him.  I wanted to share grandad's letter with everyone because it applies to us all. 
Much Love,
Becca

Honk If You Knew Me

September 11, 2020
This story demonstrates one example of his sense of humor.
Back in the late 1980s when we lived in Provo, Gary discussed his eventual funeral service plans with me and told me that when he died he didn't want any big funeral services but instead he wanted to be propped up in an old rocking chair with his hand waving to cars as they drove thru the intersection of 1230 North and 500 West which was located just a couple buildings East of where his old Credit Union Office was at the time, sitting at his feet he wanted a sign that read "Honk If You Knew Me".
This is just one example of his sense of humor and how he tried to include it in all aspects of his life. 
(Written by Boyd)

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