Marsha H. Garner

Marsha graduated from Provo High School in 1967 and began working at Signetics Corp. Shortly after that she gave birth to her first child, Rodney Olson Garner on May 24, 1969. She married Leland Olson and then gave birth to Richard Eugene Olson on October 11, 1972. She later remarried James Eugene Garner and gave birth to her only daughter, Astra Jacquette Garner (Garcia.) While working for Signetics she also had opened a saloon/café along with her husband, Jim, in Soldier Summit, Utah. She worked for Signetics Corp. for 21 years before moving with her husband, Jim and daughter, Astra to Yuma, Arizona in February 1989. Marsha began working at Yuma Proving Ground in late 1989. She worked for YPG for the last 23 years and had just recently taken a medical leave of absence for necessary heart surgery. She would have been officially retired on April 30, 2012 from her position at YPG. She passed away on March 14, 2012 at the Tucson VA Hospital due to complications during surgery.

Marsha will always be remembered by her loving children, Rodney Olson Garner, Richard Eugene Olson and Astra Jacquette Garcia; her four brothers, Roger Hutchinson, Keith Reed, Gary Hutchinson and Roy Hutchinson. Marsha claims 12 grandchildren, Brandy, Alisha, Amber, Hayden, Katelyn, Henry, Victoria, Paige, Anthony, Julie, Jeremy and Maureen and 5 great grandchildren, plus or minus some. Her husband, Jim passed away on May 8, 2006.

Marsha was a kind, generous, beautiful, dedicated, loving and inspiring mother to many (besides her children.) In addition to her children, she adopted many as her own family. As an exemplary professional in her field, she held many awards and was recognized as a strong, dedicated leader to all. She will be greatly missed here on earth.

Visitation for Marsha will be Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at Johnson Mortuary Chapel starting at 4 pm with the Funeral Service to follow at 6:00 pm. A Family Viewing will also be held on Friday, March 23, 2012. The viewing will be at Olpin Stevens Funeral Home in Fillmore, Utah at 11:00 am to 12:00 noon. The Graveside Service will follow at Kanosh Cemetery in Kanosh, Utah.

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Marsha H. Garner who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Marsha was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Marsha knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

Marsha was born on October 30, 1948 at Utah Valley Regional Hospital in Provo, Utah. Her parents were Broze and Beth Hutchinson. Marsha was raised in Utah. Even as a youngster, Marsha learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Marsha was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Marsha was raised with four brothers. She had Roger Hutchinson, Keith Reed, Gary Hutchinson and Roy Hutchinson. Marsha had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Marsha, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

In school, Marsha was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Marsha was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Marsha’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” She graduated from Provo High School in 1967. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

Marsha was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Marsha was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn’t afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Marsha came to expect her high standards of performance. Later in life, she became friends with Robbie Smith, Briggetta Fox, Taz Belcher, Buff and Julie Taylor, Horace and Pam Montoya, Paul and Linda Cannon, Dottie Priest, Renate, Bill Coley and Evelyn Malo.

An objective and conscientious individual, Marsha reveled in the security of her family. One of Marsha’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

Marsha was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Marsha would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Marsha was blessed with three children, to Rodney Olson Garner, Richard Eugene Olson and Astra Jacquette Garner. They were also blessed with 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren, Her beloved grandchildren, Brandy, Alisha, Amber, Hayden, Katelyn, Henry, Victoria, Paige, Anthony, Julie, Jeremy and Maureen and her great grandchildren, Paxton Jay Mitani, Andrea Cruz and Johnny Cruz.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Marsha was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Marsha was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Marsha upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was Industrial Property Management Specialist. She was employed for the last 23 years by Yuma Proving Ground. Marsha was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Marsha approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were entertaining friends, lunch with the girls and traveling.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Marsha to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. She also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were football and baseball.

As someone who placed a high value on showing gratitude, Marsha could graciously accept a “thank you” extended to her by those she helped. However, individual recognition wasn’t a motivating force for Marsha; rather, when she saw that there was a need to get something done, she was more than willing to give her time and energy in order to see it accomplished. Some of her most prestigious awards included numerous commanders awards.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Marsha used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Marsha had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. It is hard to say which were her favorite vacations because she loved to travel especially to Kentucky

Before Marsha’s retirement date arrived she had to take a medical leave of absence for necessary heart surgery. Marsha was going to officially retire on April 30, 2012. In many ways, Marsha would have loved retirement. It would have provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Marsha passed away due to complications during her surgery on March 14, 2012 at the VA Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. She is survived by her loving children, Rodney Olson Garner, Richard Eugene Olson and Astra Jacquette Garner Garcia; brothers, Roger Hutchinson, Keith Reed, Gary Hutchinson and Roy Hutchinson and 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, plus or minus some. Services were held at Johnson Mortuary Chapel in Yuma, Arizona on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at 6:00 pm. A Family Viewing was also held on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 11:00 am at Olpin Stevens Funeral Home in Fillmore, Utah with Graveside Services to follow visitation at Kanosh Cemetery. Marsha was laid to rest in Kanosh Cemetery in Kanosh, Utah.

All who knew her would agree that Marsha was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Marsha H. Garner did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.