March 10, 1931 – June 7, 2018
Gary Bingham Pearce, 87, passed away on June 7, 2018, with his wife by his side and just 26 hours prior to his brother Reid passing. He suffered a long and challenging battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Gary was born on March 10, 1931, in Cornish, Utah, as the eldest son to John David Lafayette (Jack) and Edith Bingham Pearce. Gary grew up in Cornish on the family farm. Being the first born, Gary needed to learn early how to help and run the farm with his father. He learned to fix just about anything mechanical on the farm in those early years.
Gary graduated from North Cache High School in Richmond, Utah, in 1939 and immediately went to work for Joe Albertson’s store in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Gary joined the Navy at the height of the Korean War at the young age of 20 and was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge – CV33. After the Navy, Gary married Shirley Harmer. Gary and Shirley first made their home in Salt Lake City avenues, then their first home in Kearns, then a new home in Granger, and finally, bought a new home in Bennion.
After the death of Shirley in 1978, Gary married Kaye Couton in May 1979 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. They later made their home in St. George, Utah.
Gary had a long career with Mountain Bell for over 35 years. He was a cable splicer, central office repairman and later went into management as a central office foreman. Gary attended many different Bell System electronic classes at Bell Labs and was instrumental in converting phone system central offices from step-by-step manual switching to all electronic switching systems. Gary had many good memories while working at the phone company, mostly the people he worked with.
Gary was preceded in death by his wife Shirley, his parents, his brother Reid, a cousin Phil Perry, a daughter Susan Evans, stepson Dan Couton and stepdaughter Collette Couton. He is survived by his wife Kaye, his brother Rod Pearce (Nancy), his sister Linda Palmer (Jim) of Preston, Idaho, and one child Jeff (Molly) of South Jordan, Utah. He has six grandchildren as follows: Natalie, Heather, Jeremy, Jamie, Stevie Kaye and Kenny. He has 7 1/2 great grandchildren. He has four nephews and five nieces.
All who knew him will miss him.
Funeral services
- Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 16, at 2 p.m., at Spilsbury Mortuary in St. George, Utah, located at 110 South Bluff St.
- There will be a viewing on Saturday at 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the mortuary.
- Interment will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery in St. George, Utah.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family online.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Spilsbury Mortuary, 435-673-2454.
For condolences, full obituary and funeral listings please visit Spilsbury Mortuary online.