Kenneth Matt Garrard

Kenneth (Matt) Garrard

A lifelong resident of Tooele County and a 1972 graduate of Tooele High School, Matt grew up in Lakepoint, UT, and spent most of his life in Grantsville, UT, with his beautiful wife and family. He passed away after a brave fight with illness, leaving behind a legacy defined by his unwavering devotion to his work, his youth teams, and most importantly, his family.

Matt was a man of quiet strength, immense generosity, and a deep love for his family. He believed that family wasn’t just a part of life—it was life itself. He worked tirelessly to provide for his children, but his true wealth was found in the moments spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A conversation with Matt typically involved two things: a quick update on the Yankees or Bears, followed by a long, proud recount of his family’s latest milestones. He was a constant presence in the lives of his loved ones—always showing up for every game, every need, and every person who crossed his path.

Matt was the go-to guy for his siblings, friends, family, and even strangers when they needed help with air conditioning or heating repairs. His heart was as big as his work ethic, and he leaves behind a world made warmer by his kindness and a family legacy of selfless love.

Matt was a dedicated family man and a pillar of the Tooele County community. Whether coaching youth baseball and softball or sitting by the water with a fishing pole in hand, Matt was always teaching and leading by example. He took great pride in coaching his own children and countless local youth, instilling in them the same work ethic and passion he applied to everything he did. Some of his family’s most cherished memories were built on the water, where he patiently taught his children and grandchildren the art of fishing. To Matt, life was best spent helping others succeed—whether that was a kid hitting their first home run or a grandchild landing their first fish.

A man of deep faith, Matt was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many callings, with his heart belonging to the Primary. For 15 years, he was a beloved teacher who had a unique gift for reaching children.

Matt is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Julie Price Garrard; his children, Mandy (Jeremy) Hill, Heather (Jeremy) Wells, Samantha (Tony) Summers, Kansas (Branden) Strickland, and Matthew (Bryton) Garrard; 22 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Janice Bush, Billie (Scott) Hubbard, Richard Hammond, and Mike (Terri) Garrard; his brother-in-law Erwin (Aleta) Garn, sister-in-law Sherrie (Don) Henry, and sister-in-law Kat Peterson.

Matt is preceded in death by his father Kenneth Garrard, his mother Eudean Newman Garrard, sister Joyce Hammond, brother-in-law Craig Bush, nephew Brandon Dyer, and grandson Kodee-Lee Summers.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the transplant team at the University of Utah and the oncology specialists at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Their care went beyond medical treatment—they truly loved our dad and fought alongside him every step of the way to keep him with us.

A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the LDS Church building located at 81 North Church Street in Grantsville, UT 84029.

Funeral services will be held at the same location on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a viewing prior to services at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Lakepoint Cemetery, located at 7831 North Mountain View Road in Lakepoint, UT, at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations in Matt Garrard’s name to the University of Utah Transplant Team or Huntsman Cancer Research.