Jan 3, 1952-Jan. 1, 2023
Gary Eugene Wilde passed away peacefully on Jan. 1, 2023, with his loving wife Sharlene and his two children, Kayla and Austin by his side. He was 70 years old. He was born on Jan. 3, 1952, in Payson, Utah to Jerry Eugene Wilde and Collene Staheli Ahlin.
He grew up in Eureka and Santaquin, Utah, and attended Payson High School. He left high school to begin his mining career at the age of 16. In 1970 he married RaMona McIntyre and they had a daughter Monica. They later divorced in 1973. In 1982 he met and married the love of his life Sharlene Behunin while he was working as a gandy dancer on the Intermountain Power Project in Delta, Utah. They lived in Payson, Utah, for a short time but then moved to Santaquin where they spent 34 years before moving to St. George, Utah. They have two children, Kayla and Austin.
Gary was a hard rock miner and consider one of the best in his field. He was never out of work unless he wanted to be because it was hunting season. If he needed a job, it only took a few phone calls and he had one. He worked mines all over the United States from Louisiana to Alaska and California to Virginia and all points in between. His later career found him mostly in the Midwest, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada because he wanted to be as close as possible to Sharlene and the kids.
Gary loved to hunt and fish. He was an outdoorsman through and through. He was so happy when Austin was born because he wanted a hunting and fishing buddy, and Austin is just that. They started hunting in August and didn’t stop until the last hunt was over in November almost every year. Neither one of them would shoot an animal unless it was a trophy (or the last day of the hunt) just so they could keep hunting. Gary also loved to fish. Otter Creek was his favorite fishing place, but he drowned many a worm at Burstons in Mona and Payson Lakes.
While he loved working, hunting and fishing, his greatest love was his family. He loved Sharlene and his kids beyond words and once the grandkids were born, they became his entire life. While his oldest grandkids, Sadie and Chase lived in Wisconsin and Colorado, he always made sure he stayed a part of their lives as much as possible.
In 2011, he was blessed with twin grandsons, Ayden and Jackson. Gary made sure that he was at Kayla’s house every single day to wash bottles, fold laundry and rock one or both of the babies to sleep. In 2012, Austin and his wife Mallory blessed him with another granddaughter, Lilly. He was so proud to have a little red-headed spitfire and made sure everyone knew it. In 2014, Kayla and Trevor and Austin and Mallory brought his last two grandsons into the world only 29 days apart. He knew then that life just couldn’t get any better until they all started to play sports.
Gary played baseball when he was young and was a no-hit pitcher. Unfortunately, none of the grandkids liked baseball. They are amazing soccer, basketball and hockey players. His last years were spent on the soccer field almost daily. He took Ayden, Jackson and Lucas to soccer practice and almost never missed a game. He even started watching Real Salt Lake games and the FIFA 2022 World Cup was a highlight of his last days.
Gary is survived by his wife Sharlene Behunin Wilde, his daughters Kayla Payne (Trevor) and Monica Wilde and his son Austin Gary Wilde (Mallory). He is also survived by his mother Colleen Staheli Ahlin (Eddie) and three sisters Sonja Hutchings, Melody Bowers and Marianne Moreno and three brothers Wendell Wilde, Ted Ahlin and Mark Ahlin. He is preceded in death by his father Jerry Eugene Wilde.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, 11 a.m. at the Stone Mountain Chapel located at 124 Valley View Drive in St. George, Utah, where friends and family may call from 9-10:30 a.m.
Family and friends who are unable to attend are invited to click here to view the funeral service online.
Interment will be at the Tonaquint Cemetary in St. George, Utah.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Gary’s online guest book.