In Loving Memory of Gary Bickmore

Gary Bickmore passed away suddenly and shockingly on Tuesday, 11/18/2024, in Millcreek, UT. He was born on 7/30/1959 in Salt Lake City to Betty and Ron Bickmore. Gary was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and often stoic man who led a full life. Growing up, Gary enjoyed watersports, the outdoors, 4-wheeling, hiking, fishing, girls (being the best-looking of his brothers), and football in the neighborhood. He excelled in swimming and basketball through high school, though maybe he should have stayed away from carpet basketball courts. He went on a mission for the LDS Church after high school in Houston, TX, where he met his eventual wife, then Mari Jones. The gospel shaped the man he became and was a guiding light throughout his life.

Mari was the love of his life, and he made that clear any time their children upset her. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 5, 1982, and spent 42 years moving about the country with his career. He loved his co-workers; by all accounts, they loved him. He was a natural-born manager standing up for what was true, right, and fair, not always saying what someone wanted to hear. Starting in Houston, he and his family moved to Memphis, North Ogden, Nashville, Lafayette, Columbus, Minneapolis, Nashville, Kansas City, El Dorado Hills, and finally settled in Salt Lake City. His family has, for the most part, taken the moving tradition forward, spreading it out across the globe.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Mari, and their four children, as well as 10 grandchildren: Kevin (Yoko) and his children Akina and Haruka; Kristopher (Benia) and their children Elayne and Ezra; Jacob (Helene) and their children Anika and Joakim; and Amanda (Bradley) and their children Malachi, Myra, Makenna and Marissa. Gary and Malachi were inseparable. Mari and Gary’s children were the most important thing to them, and they ensured that their kids were given every opportunity and experience that was within their power to give. Many a long road trip (or flight) was taken to go on ski trips and vacations, often far longer than spring break. These trips, even the parts that involved Kansas, will never be forgotten and brought a sense of the world being at arm’s reach. Mari and Gary loved to travel together and saw many places that they had planned to spend more time during their retirement years.

Gary lived an active life consisting of daily exercise, grandkids, and work. When he had time, he had a number of hobbies, such as hiking and snowshoeing, but he loved nothing more than his role as a grandparent, known as “Gaga.” He spent as much time as he could with them despite some living in distant places. He had loved his fishing trips from his youth and throughout his life and had planned to teach his grandchildren his love of fishing in his retirement.

Gary will always be remembered as someone who was reliable, trustworthy, and kind. He was Mari’s rock and always a good provider and was happy to do so. We will always wish we had just one more day, one more phone call, just one more word, even though it would never be enough. For us, there will never be a better husband and father.