Gary Lee Knight passed away on Tuesday, August 15, 2023. Gary was born on September 18, 1946 in Provo, Utah to Ralph Waldo and Fern Young Knight. He grew up attending Utah County Schools in Orem, Goshen, Payson. He lived on a fruit farm in Orem where they grew a variety of fruit trees. His family moved to Genola where they raised quarter horses for shows. He graduated from Payson High in May 1964. In January 1965, he joined the United States Air Force. He spent time training in Austin TX, Biloxi MS, Roswell, NM among others. He was sent to Vietnam in October of 1967. He served two tours in Vietnam, the first tour he was attached to the Army as a ROMAD. He re-enlisted in 1968 to help a family man be able to return home to his family. He spent the second tour in Thailand. He came home in October of 1969.

His dad, Ralph, and fellow truck driver, George Daley, set him up on a blind date with George’s daughter, Susan. They went on their first date on November 9, 1969. After their first date, Gary went home and told his mom he was going to marry her. His mom replied, “Oh sleep on it, and you’ll feel differently in the morning.” But he didn’t. He proposed to Susan Daley on November 14, 1969. On November 17, 1969, he had to move to Walla Walla, Washington where he was to be stationed. Susan flew up on Christmas Day to visit and Gary told her she wasn’t going home. They were married on January 2, 1970 and welcomed their first child, Thomas in early 1971.

They moved back to Utah in October 1971 where Gary was stationed at Hill Air Force Base. After being discharged from the Air Force he joined the Air National Guard. He had a full-time civil service job in the Guard in addition to weekend drills. Over the next several years they welcomed 3 more children, Michael, Jason, and Tiffany.

They had property in Payson, Utah where they raised horses, Foxy Sally, Foxy Rhythm, and Stormy (Nester’s Nothing). They raced Foxy Rhythm in multiple horse races for the next 3 years on flat track and chariot races. He was discharged from the Air National Guard in 1987 and joined the inactive ready reserves. He officially retired from the military in 1989 at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. In 1987, he worked 6 years overseas in communications. Upon his return, he spent the rest of his working career at L3 Communications, retiring in 2012.

He spent his retirement years doting on his sweetheart of 53 years and his various dogs. He would help out family in any way he could. He enjoyed the grandkids immensely and loved them very much.

He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Knight, his parents Ralph Waldo and Fern Young Knight, his brother and sister-in-law Ray and Dee Knight, his brother and sister-in-law Ken and Dorothy Knight, his sister and brother-in-law Colleen and Clent Lewis. He is survived by his wife, Susan, his children, Michael (Sheila) of Kaysville, UT, Jason Knight, of Sandy, UT and Tiffany (Nick) Rudelich of Sandy, UT, his 13 grandkids, and 12 great-grandkids, his sister Fern (Val) Harward of Orem, UT and various brothers and sisters-in-law.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, August 25, 2023 at 3:00 PM at Memorial Redwood Mortuary, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah. A viewing for friends and family will be prior to services from 2:00 to 2:45 PM.

Interment at Memorial Redwood Cemetery, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah.