Ernest “Ernie” Gust was born May 27, 1937 to Helen Lexis Gust and Nick Gust, at the family home in Magna, Utah. Ernie passed away May 3, 2024, a few weeks short of his 87th birthday.
He graduated from Cyprus High School in 1955. With his ‘56 Chevy, he courted and married Kathryn “Kay” Leonard on July 12, 1958. They had three children, Cindy, Jim and Nick. Ernie and Kay helped Kay’s sister Susan raise her daughter Katie.
Ernie’s Dad immigrated from Greece, and his Mom was a first generation American. Ernie was proud of his Greek heritage.
He often reminisced about his Grandfather Pete Lexis exclaiming ‘God Bless America’ frequently, and naming his business ‘48 Stars’ in honor of America and the number of stars on the flag at the time.
Ernie shared his Grandfather’s patriotism, and he also held a strong work ethic. For a significant portion of his adult life he worked 14 hours a day, seven days a week.
He grew up fast, due to the loss of his Father when he was just 7 years old.
He started at an early age to help his Mother and siblings deal with the rigors of the family farm including planting, watering, and harvesting corn, tomatoes, hay and other crops.
While still seeing to farm duties, he added a job at the Four Way Service Station in Magna as a teenager. He later had the opportunity to establish his own business as a Chevron gas station dealer and he enjoyed many years of positive relationships with patrons.
He purchased a second automotive property and established Ernie’s Automotive. He was known to provide weekend emergency roadside assistance to his regular customers, with his family in tow, sometimes driving an hour or more to reach customers.
In his younger years, it wasn't unusual for Ernie to harvest corn and tomatoes in the morning with his brother and other young men, go to work at the gas station, and then take his turn to help close the family Arctic Circle drive-in and take the proceeds to his Mom for deposit the next day. Occasionally he added a midnight crop irrigating shift to the routine.
Ernie never mentioned this, but his Mother was always proud that when Ernie was in elementary school, he volunteered to carry a classmate who had mobility limits up the stairs to his classes. Three-story Webster Elementary had no elevators.
He was always a farmer at heart. He could identify any crop from a distance, and could easily diagnose & provide solutions to crop & garden challenges. One of his doctors asked for gardening advice & Dad wrote out his corn and tomato tips on a sheet from the doctor’s prescription pad, complete with diagrams.
Eventually Ernie was able to take weekends off, and the family enjoyed fishing and camping.
They also enjoyed spending time at their cabin at Pine Mountain for many years, and later enjoyed time at their home-away-from-home in Las Vegas.
He always had money to share for a homeless person or a vet, or a person in need. Sometimes he would quietly pay for veterans’ meals in restaurants. Cindy recalls a couple approaching Ernie in a medical waiting room; they thanked him for years earlier buying their child diapers when he overheard them faced with deciding between diapers and food. Ernie had a tender heart which he sometimes camouflaged with a gruff attitude or humor…. or both.
Ernie supported and cared for his wife Kay as she battled multiple myeloma for several years. For extended periods, Kay and Ernie traveled to Huntsman daily for her treatment. Kay passed in 2015. Two sisters also preceded Ernie in death; Dorothy Milar and Stella Brown, as well as Kay’s four brothers and one sister.
Survived by his children Cindy Gust-Jenson (Cory Jenson), Jim Gust (Annie), Nick Gust (Melissa Baxter) and honorary daughter, Kate Jenkins Mickel (Matt). He is also survived by his grandchildren and great grandchildren, his cousins, and many nieces and nephews. His siblings, John Gust (Jeri) and Joyce Young survive him.
Special thanks to dear friends DeLoy and Jeannie Rupp and to his friend Von, who was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Thanks to: Jenna Barrington and her teammates at Utah Home Health and Hospice; the staff at Escalante at Coventry Assisted Living; the family and staff of Tui Tu’itupou; his dedicated physical therapist ‘Randy from Sandy;’ Ernie’s sister Joyce for her support and companionship, and to so many others.
Although Ernie spent the last few months of his life in an assisted living facility, he was rarely alone. He maintained his sense of humor and enjoyed sharing his amusing sayings and quips. His children were attentive to his every need and stepped up to lovingly care for their dad. Ernie knew he was loved.
As he was fond of saying, “Sweet Dreams.”
May his memory be eternal.
In lieu of flowers (lovely as they are), the family suggests the following charitable organizations: Fisherhouse.org (For veterans & their families)
givehuntsmancancer.org (For treatment & research)
Or the charity of your choice
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