President Garner passed away a year ago, and I just noticed that his death had not been posted. President Garner had such a pivotal role for members and missionaries in the vast Southern Far East Mission, including thousands of LDS military personnel in Vietnam during the war. He opened the work in Thailand and Singapore during his time as mission president. He was a remarkable man who had a positive impact on many lives. Sister Merilynn Garner also passed away, only a half year later.
Obituary
Keith Elliott Garner
1919-2012
Salt Lake City, UT-Keith Elliott Garner died on April 26, 2012, Salt Lake City Utah, just 13 days shy of his 93rd birthday, from age related causes. He was born May 11, 1919 to Benjamin Franklin Garner and Mary Selina Carr in Sugar City, Idaho. He left home to serve an LDS mission in Hawaii in 1940 where he flourished with a great love of the people and their beautiful islands. While attending the University of San Francisco he met, courted and married Marilynn Jean Ressel on September 21, 1944 in Salt Lake Temple. He also served his country by serving in the US Army during World War II and left as a 1st Lt.
In addition to establishing a very successful career in real estate and land development in the San Francisco Bay Area, Keith also began his lifelong service to his church by teaching early morning seminary and presiding as bishop of the Menlo Park ward for eleven years. In 1965 Keith moved his family to the Hong Kong mission home for three years while he served as president of the Southern Far East Mission. Shortly after his release as mission president, Keith continued his church service by moving to Salt Lake City and becoming director of the Salt Lake Visitors Center Mission. He continued working in numerous other church related endeavors throughout his life. He loved to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and was a tireless preacher missionary. He and his wife traveled throughout the world participating in church related activities.
Keith was blessed with great physical energy, extraordinary intuition, and a charismatic personality. His charm and wit made him the life of the party, a dynamic leader, and an inspiring teacher. Throughout his lifetime, his generosity blessed the lives of many friends, neighbors, and his family.
