Gary D. Golightly was a member of the last graduating class of 1968 of Brigham Young High School. He served as Sports Editor of the Brigadier student newspaper in 1967-1968. He later studied business and communications at Brigham Young University.

Gary had an abiding passion for the city of Provo, Utah, and worked with great energy in many roles to promote his beloved community.

Gary served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest Indian Mission, speaking Navajo among Native Americans in Arizona and New Mexico.

He has always loved music, and when he returned from his mission, he enjoyed a stint as disc jockey for KEYY radio.

In 1981 Gary was elected in 1981 as an at-large member of Provo’s first municipal council. He was serving as Chair of the City Council in 1986, when he resigned to take a job as Provo’s first Director of Economic Development, a position he held until 1994.

In these roles, Gary was instrumental in supporting the development of the East Bay golf course and business park, along with many other commercial and residential projects.

Beginning in 1994 and for many years, he served as Executive Director of the Provo Open, a golf tournament and charity fund raiser held at East Bay.

He also served as a member of the Brigham Young Academy Foundation. The BYAF raised money to restore the 1892 Education Building, which now functions as part of the Provo City Library.

Beginning in 1971, Gary managed the Checkpoint clothing stores in downtown Provo and in the University Mall. He enjoyed staging popular fashion shows to promote these stores. In 1976, he served as president of the University Mall Merchant Association.

He was an owner and president of Little Rascals, a children’s clothing store in downtown Provo. He also enjoyed serving on Provo’s Merchant Council and in the Provo Chamber of Commerce.

Gary was born in Provo, Utah, on May 12, 1950, to Max Chatterton Golightly and Beverly Keith Golightly.

Gary was one of four sons, including, Kim Oliver Golightly (Anne Ashworth), Kyle Chatterton Golightly (Michelle Briggs), Guy Parley Keith Golightly (Chris Call), and they had one sister, Laurynda Gae Golightly, who passed away in 2017.

Gary passed away peacefully on January 27, 2022, surrounded by loved ones who will deeply miss him, and his contagious enthusiasm and sense of humor.

Gary is survived by four daughters, whom he cherished: Taleese Rogers (Kevin), Keely Anne Golightly, Aubree Walton, and Gabby Golightly. He has three adorable grandchildren, Brynn Rogers, Sailor Hunter, and Henley Walton.

Gary had three marriages. He and Kathi Moore Jensen are the parents of his oldest three daughters. He was later married to Janeen Rider, and they are the parents of Gary’s youngest daughter. Later, he was married to Cherisa Baxter.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 5th at 11 a.m., in the clubhouse of Timpanogos Golf Club, 380 E. Lakeview Pkwy Provo, Utah. [Provo Daily Herald, January 30, 2022 & Utah Valley Mortuary, Lindon, Utah]