Gayle Dee Johnson

Gayle passed away quickly and quietly on July 29th 2025 while doing what he loved best; serving those he loved.

To those who knew Gayle best, he was the man who anchored the Universe, the strongest man alive, and the rock upon which we stood. He would tell you that his greatest achievement in life was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dian Lee Daniels Johnson, and their five children: Wendy (James) Richhart, Jeffry Johnson, Troy Johnson, Kammy Jacobsen, and Arron Johnson. He was a proud grandfather to nine grandchildren—Kambree (Cameron) Wright, Austin Richhart, Devree (Spencer) Gassmann, Alex (Kayla) Richhart, Brach (Julia) Jacobsen, Rylee Richhart, Tyler Jacobsen, Zach Johson, and Sydni Jacobsen—and a cherished great-grandfather to nine great-grandchildren: Harper, Blakely, Paisley, Rockwell, Quinton, Liam, Kennedy, Briggs, and Tate. Gayle is also survived by his sister, Judy Johnson, and his brother, Robert Johnson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Margaret Johnson; his sisters, Linda Johnson and Beverly Aiken; and his parents-in-law, Leola and Richard Daniels.

He served and loved quietly, with a dry sense of humor that made people feel at ease and drawn to him, He was loved by many who called him Dad, brother, son, and grandpa, including some honorary children who looked to him as a father figure, Ray Daniels, Debbie Hilton, Trent Taylor, Trent Smith, Brian and Stephen Laird, Scott, Jace, and Sean Moysh, and many more.

Gayle married the love of his life, Dian Lee Daniels, in 1968 when he was 22 and she was 19. They “grew up together” as they built their lives around one another. In 2023, when they were both hospitalized for COVID, Gayle wheeled his oxygen and IV bag down the hall to Dian’s room and asked the staff to bring his dinner into her room so they could dine together. Their love and devotion to one another were evident to all who knew them, including the hospital staff and doctors who took care of them.

Gayle served in the Army National Guard as a young man and was honorably discharged from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 140th Artillery in 1971. His service to his country and the conditioning and discipline he learned there contributed to his reputation as the strongest man alive, and his children never doubted that he was stronger than Superman.

Gayle had a deep love for the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and boating. Each October, Gayle could be found hunting on Parker Mountain, a tradition he upheld faithfully year after year, regardless of life’s challenges. His dedication to the outdoors was unwavering, and while his wife didn’t share his enthusiasm for hunting, she supported him with patience and love. His most treasured hunting companions were his sons and his nephews—Randy, Roland, Derrin, and Korry—who built lasting memories together as they nicknamed the Parker Mountain topography as The Fire Swamp, Gayle’s Kitchen, Arron’s Road, and Troy’s Pond. Each landmark has a story behind the name, like 5900 South, which is the bumpiest road on the mountain. Other parts of the mountain are lovingly named Lug Nut Road, Inconceivable Road, Jeff’s Meadow, and Parts Unknown.

Gayle worked at the Kennecott Copperton Concentrator, where he dedicated 32 years to maintaining the four SAG mills, which he named after his children, and he would always joke about which child was acting up at work. His youngest child, who never had a SAG mill named after him, was lovingly referred to as the perfect child, since his SAG mill never broke down. I will leave it to speculation as to which “child” gave him the most trouble.

When he wasn’t at work fixing big things, he was at home fixing all the little things around the house. He showed his love through home improvement projects and was constantly working on something. He and his wife moved into their dream home together in 1978, and he never stopped making it the perfect place for them to live. Most recently, at the age of 79, he endeavored to replace the front porch, despite the large block of solid cement that withstood days of jackhammering. With the help of friends, neighbors, sons, and grandsons (and some heavy equipment), he succeeded in removing all the cement and installing a beautiful porch for him and his wife to enjoy on summer evenings. The house he so lovingly maintained stands as a monument to his love and devotion to his family, who will miss him every day.

Services will be held at the Green Oaks LDS Chapel, 932 West Green Oaks Drive, Murray, UT 84123, Viewing: August 4th, 6:00-8:00 pm, and again August 5th, 10:00-10:45, Funeral: August 5th 11:00 am. Interment will follow the funeral service at Elysian Gardens.