Levi Veryl Gardner

Levi Veryl Gardner, devoted husband, dad, and grandpa, 89, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at his home in Van Nuys, California, on April 1, 2016.  Veryl was born August 12, 1926, in Snowville, Utah, to Alphonzo Dewey and Lila Peterson Gardner.
When Veryl was 3 and his brother, Keith, 5, their parents divorced and they were raised in Deweyville by their beloved grandmother, Harriet Adalaide Dewey Gardner, and a special uncle and aunt, Milo Dewey and Nellie Knowles Gardner. The children’s mother moved to Salt Lake City and their dad worked for the railroad in Ogden and traveled often to Deweyville.
Veryl loved growing up in Deweyville.  He pitched and played shortstop, when the neighborhood children got together for ballgames and when he was older, he attended dances at Crystal Springs in Honeyville.  Veryl loved horses and when he was 14, he told his dad he was going to Montana to work on a ranch.  His dad didn’t believe him, but gave him a dollar for travel and Veryl and a friend rode the bus to Montana and worked on a ranch all summer.  At the end of the summer, Veryl received a letter from his mother indicating that if he didn’t return to Utah, she was going to call the sheriff.
When Veryl was 17 years old, he joined the United States Navy, which is of particular interest considering the fact that the first time he took a raft down the Bear River, he got seasick.  Veryl served in the South Pacific on one of the most decorated battleships of WWII—the USS South Dakota.  He was one of the first Americans on Japan soil after the treaty was signed.
After the war, the USS South Dakota sailed through the Panama Canal to the Philadelphia Navy shipyard, where Veryl served the remainder of his military commitment.  It was in “Philly” that he met the love of his life on a blind date--a beautiful Italian girl named Rose, whose parents had emigrated from Italy.  Veryl and Rose were married September 13, 1952, in a beautiful Catholic Cathedral.  Veryl loved his Rosie!  James Andrew was born to them in Philly and he was their world.  In 1964, the family moved to California, where Veryl worked as a TV repairman for over 30 years.
Jim brought a beautiful daughter, Heather, into the family, whom Veryl and Rose adored and the feeling was mutual.  They drove her to and from pre-school and elementary school and completely dedicated their lives to her.  Nothing brought them greater joy than their son and granddaughter.
Veryl and Rose made many, many dear, life-long friends through the Italian-Catholic Federation.  They worked very hard planning and implementing many fun activities and trips.  They also enjoyed getting together with friends each week and playing cards.
Veryl was very easy-going and patient and he had a great sense of humor.  People were drawn to him for his unconditional love and kindness.  He is greatly missed . . .
Veryl is survived by his wife of 63 years, Rose; his son, Jim; granddaughters, Heather and Sandy; great-grandson, Carter; sister-in-law, Winona Gardner; and many nieces and nephews.  Veryl was preceded in death by his brother, Keith, and brothers-in-law Anthony (Rose); Frank (Millie); Rocco (Mary); Johnny (Clara/Kitty); Joseph (Margie); and James Stano and sisters-in-law Josephine and Anne Stano.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 6, 2016, in the Deweyville, Utah, LDS church Relief Society room at 10750 North Highway 69.  Visitation at 3:30 p.m. and funeral at 4:00 p.m.
Interment will be at the Deweyville, Utah, Cemetery.
Military Honors by the Combined Veterans of Box Elder County.