Jan. 11, 1950-Feb. 7, 2024
Gary Dean Milligan, age 74, passed away on Feb. 7, 2024, in Saint George, Utah. He was born on Jan. 11, 1950, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Leslie June Gillam Milligan and Burton Richardson Milligan. He was married to Jonanne Hannan from Sept. 4, 1976 to July 27, 1979. He married Leslie Ann Francom Milligan in Hawthorne, California on Nov. 22, 1980. They were later sealed in the Las Vegas, Nevada, LDS Temple on Sept 14, 2002
Gary was raised in Torrance, California. He has lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Torrance, California; Sepulveda, California; Gardena, California; Johnson Valley, California; Lucerne Valley, California; and Saint George, Utah. He was the Director of Maintenance and Operations for Lucerne Valley Unified School District when he retired on Jan. 15, 2015. Gary became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Feb. 13, 1982. They were later sealed in the Las Vegas, Nevada, LDS Temple on Sept. 14, 2002.
Gary loved biking, playing softball, bowling, shooting, white-water rafting, 4-wheel driving, exploring, camping, and driving anywhere at any time. He enjoyed coaching his kids in baseball, attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, traveling around the United States with Leslie and going to Dodger Games. He always said his wife Leslie was his best friend and Tom McEntire (whom he had known since kindergarten) was his second best friend. He loved his children and grandchildren and would do anything for them. He also enjoyed working on family history and loading family pictures into the computer. At church, Gary served as a Counselor in the Bishopric, Ward Secretary and Ward Clerk. He would often volunteer to distribute food to the needy. He loved talking and visiting with people. He especially loved ice cream with lots and lots of whip cream.
Gary is survived by his wife Leslie and children Jake Rodriguez (Melissa) from Lucerne Valley, California, Mike Milligan (Beth) from Del Mar, California, and Heather Udy (Nathan) from Saint George, Utah. He is also survived by his 10 grandchildren: Riley, Maxwell, Caitlyn, Garren, Reghan, Parker, Hank, Bruce, Conrad and Brecken.
He is also survived by his 91-year-old Aunt Faye Huffman.
Services for Gary will be held on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2668 Crimson Ridge Drive, Saint George, Uta. Interment will be at Tonaquint Cemetery in Saint George, under the direction of McMillan Mortuary 435-688-8880.
To view the live stream and share condolences, click here to access the McMillan Mortuary website.