Gary Dayton

Gary D. Dayton passed away. peacefully at home on July 16, 2023 with family by his side at the age of 88. He was born May 14, 1935 in Heber City, Utah to Bert G. and Dortha Duke Dayton. He always appreciated being raised in Heber Valley and enjoyed so many good friends there. He loved Mount Timpanogos and lived on one side or the other all his life. He graduated from Wasatch High School in 1953, He met his wife, Zona, in an algebra class and knew that she was the one for him. They were married in 1954 in Heber City and later in the Salt Lake Temple. Gary decided to go to barber school in Salt Lake City and opened his own barber shop in Provo in 1956. He later leased the barber shop at BYU and was the only privately owned business on campus. He loved cutting the hair of students, missionaries, faculty and business men, the finest people in the world. He made lifelong friends with the people he employed and worked for 44 years until he retired in year 2000. He kept contact with many great clients up until his passing. Gary had a remarkable ability to remember everyone and was a great listener. He was privileged to cut the hair of three BYU Presidents, Ernest L. Wilkinson, Rex D.Lee, and Jeffrey R. Holland. Gary was also the guy you could count on for all the BYU sports news. He had the privilege of lighting the "Y" at the BYU/Oregon football game. He was a devoted fan of his son's and grandson's ball games, throwing practice balls to them in the backyard for many years. One of his favorite hobbies was raising Birmingham Roller Pigeons.

Gary was a very fun and active father to his three sons and one daughter. They loved camping and boating especially at Bear Lake and Lake Powell. He taught all the neighbors how to water ski and was an outstanding Young Men's leader taking them to the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell. He kept contact with these young men over the years. He was a Branch President at the Provo Missionary Training Center for 3 years and later served a mission in 2003-2004 with his wife at the St. George Temple Visitors Center and Historic Sites. They loved St. George and continued to spend winters there for 14 years. Gary was so pleased that his three sons served missions and his daughter and 12 grand daughters all married returned missionaries. Gary and Zona celebrated 69 wonderful years together.

Spending time with family and his sixteen grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren was his main priority and enjoyment in life. He is survived by his wife Zona, son Cliff (Jeannie), daughter Deanna Ashman, (Todd), Daughter-in-law Marty Dayton Farr, son Roger (Jennefer), and his brother, Steve Dayton.

Gary is preceded in death by his Parents, Step-Mother(Gloria), son Lynn, Sister Dixie Beatty, and brother Ralph Dayton

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel on 450 East 2000 North, Orem, Utah. Viewings for family and friends will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah, and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in the Heber City Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.

For those unable to attend the services they can be viewed by clicking HERE