Gilbert Owen Savage

Gilbert Owen Savage was born December 1, 1917 to Van Ransler and Gladys Whitehead Savage in Lund, Nevada. Gil was the middle son of 12 children. During his early childhood, his parents moved to many places, and it was while living in Metropolis, Nevada that he met and fell in love with his sweetheart Virginia Latimer. They were married on October 18, 1940 in the Salt lake City Temple. They raised 6 children, Beverlee (Fred) Krehmeyer, Carol (Glenn) Standley, Gil Jr. (Jenette), Linda (Lynn) Hansen, Margaret (William) Parke, and Sylvia (David) Riley.

Gil is preceded in death by his sweetheart Virginia, his parents, 4 sisters and 3 brothers. He is survived by his 6 children and their spouses, 2 brothers, Doug and Cliff, 2 sisters, Mona Hunter and Rose Lear, 26 grandchildren, 75 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Gil and Virginia spent their early married lives on a large cattle and sheep ranch in the wilds of Montana where he always felt he belonged.

During their time together they lived in Montana, Nevada, California, Oregon, Utah, and San Paulo, Brazil, serving an 18 month mission while there.

Gil is what one would call a manly man; he loved the outdoors, working the soil, working horses and cattle, and just being outdoors. His gardens in Utah were always the envy of the neighborhood. He loved growing much more than he and Mom could bottle, and the surplus was given to friends, family and donated to various food banks throughout the city. We will miss those lovely gardens.

Gil had a lovely voice, and enjoyed singing. He was singing and whistling up until a few months before he passed. You always knew when he was returning home, because of the merry whistle heard as he walked down the road home.

The most important things about Gil were his love of people, his love of his family and his love of his Savior. The love of his Savior is what motivated him to be charitable to all. He felt that the best he could do was to be able to serve his fellow men. Until the last several months of his life he was a dedicated home teacher. Just a week before he passed, he asked his daughter when could he go and do his home teaching.

During his lifetime he served in many bishoprics, taught many gospel oriented classes, was the young men's leader, served in stake callings, served with the boy scouts, was a temple worker in the Salt Lake City temple, and served 6 service missions.

For the past 2.5 years Gil lived with his daughter Margaret and her husband in Drummond Montana. He was welcomed into the arms of his beloved Savior on August 26, 2012.

Gil is loved by many and will be missed. We know if we pattern our lives after Gil's we will meet again.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Kenwood First Ward, 3080 South 1765 East. Viewings will be held Friday evening August 31, 2012 at the Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the church Saturday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Interment at Elysian Burial Gardens. Messages for the family can be posted at: www.holbrookmortuary.com