Gary was born on November 14, 1947 at Valley Hospital in Tremonton, UT, the first child of Jasper Lee and Darlene Peterson Rhodes. The family moved from Box Elder County to Davis County when Gary was small and they put down roots in Layton, UT. He grew up in a paradise of sports, student government, and small town pride. His years at Davis High gave rise to some of his fondest memories and he never let go of his treasure trove of friends from that time.
In 1969, he married Patricia Lee Larsen and together they welcomed three beautiful children: Tiffany (Bradley J. Friedman, MD), Jonathan (Angie Youngquist), and Wendy (Rob Garafalo). They later divorced.
In 1991, Gary rekindled an old friendship with Ilene Clark, and it blossomed into a wonderful 30-year marriage. They faced life's every obstacle and joy with fierce togetherness, humor, and grace. They reveled in their sixteen grandchildren and traveled to be with each as often as possible.
Gary was a builder and collaborator by nature. After working for others, he created his own company, Build Wright Homes, helping over 300 customers build their own homes. He developed strong relationships with subcontractors, and local banks relied on his meticulous paperwork. He was featured in a profile about outstanding businesses on a Zions Bank radio program hosted by Fred Ball.
Gary is survived by his wife Ilene Clark Rhodes, his three children, his step-children Amanda Kent and Austin Booth (Emily), and his four siblings: Gaye Rhodes (Janice), Randy Rhodes (Tina), Holly Rasmussen (Kendall) and Heidi Davis (Brett). He was preceded in death by his parents.
He will forever be remembered for his unwavering love and dedication to his wife, to their children and grandchildren, to his siblings, and to the unbelievable bond they shared.
For an alternative suggested donation In lieu of flowers, please visit https://gofund.me/ef423e55.
