Richard Lee Garner

Richard Lee Garner
1944 ~ 2019

Richard Lee Garner passed away on February 5, 2019 after battling kidney failure. Born on July 21, 1944 to Ralph and Cleo Garner in Salt Lake City, Richard had a colorful, exciting, and happy life. He was full of joy, laughter, drama, and kindness, and had a large circle of friends throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

In his teen years, Richard spent a year and a half in the Utah State Developmental Center, and a year in the West Jordan Care Center, but the majority of his young life was spent with his mother.

Richard loved to work, and started as a 12-year-old with a newspaper route. Over the years, Richard worked at Snowbird, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Barnes and Noble, Sears, the University of Utah, DI, Utah Foods, and Hillside Rehabilitation.

In 1981, Richard started receiving services from TURN Community Services, in various living and situations and work situations. In 1998, Richard had a commitment ceremony with the love of his life, Vickie Haslam. Richard and Vickie enjoyed many adventures together before she passed away suddenly in 2001.

Most recently, Richard lived in a TURN supervised apartment, and attended TURN City Center for the Arts, where he explored his acting ability, drawing and cartoon skills, and painting. Throughout his life, Richard enjoyed counting planes; collecting pins, pens, notebooks, and coffee cups; riding his bike, skiing, bowling, and traveling. Richard was fascinated by all things Disney, law enforcement, and pro wrestling.

Richard is survived by his brother Robert and sister-in-law Kathy, his brother-in-law Cory Haslam, his brother-in-law Michael Haslam and many other members of the Haslam family.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Michael, his sister Susan, and his wife Vickie Haslam.

Graveside services will be held at the Bluffdale Cemetery on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 12:00 noon. Address: 14229 S. Redwood Road, Bluffdale, Utah 84065.

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