Gary Russell Fogg

Gary Russell Fogg, 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Bountiful, Utah, on October 4, 2025, surrounded by his wife and children. He was born on June 29, 1935, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Lorin Russell Fogg (a pharmacist) and Virginia Rose (a schoolteacher).

Gary showed ambition and drive from an early age. In fifth grade, he began selling newspapers on the streets of downtown Idaho Falls, calling out "evening paper!" to passersby. He usually earned 50 cents a day and sold all his papers within an hour and a half. Because he got to know people and proved himself trustworthy, customers began hiring him to run errands. He continued this work through seventh grade, then graduated to stocking shelves and helping customers in his father's drugstore.

Gary earned his Eagle Scout award at age 14, one of many achievements to come. In eighth grade, he began playing trumpet in a trio that performed at church activities, civic clubs, and community events. His high school band was the best in the state. As a student leader, Gary was elected business manager. In that role, he convinced the school to buy a popcorn machine and started selling popcorn at sporting events. They made so much money that school administrators questioned the figures until Gary produced the bank deposit receipts to set the record straight. (Years later, popcorn would become a family tradition. After long days of hard work, Gary would make popcorn the old-fashioned way in a big kettle for movie nights and board games.)

As a teenager, Gary earned his pilot's license and flew small planes over Idaho. As a boy, he fished often at Island Park with his father and family, creating a lifelong connection to that place. In 1950, soon after his mom was diagnosed with cancer, he traveled with his parents and younger brothers Reed and Marc to Hawaii. They enjoyed an unspoiled Waikiki for a month, being together as a family, while swimming in the ocean and weaving hats from coconut palms. This would be the first of roughly 20 trips to the Hawaiian Islands throughout his life, almost always including his children or grandchildren.

In October 1955, Gary began serving a 2.5-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany. Gary loved the people of Germany, and he loved speaking German. He learned to sing Silent Night in German, and this became his favorite song. (Years later, as a father he would sing Silent Night for his growing family.) Toward the end of his mission, Gary’s mother passed away—a loss that was difficult for the entire family. Despite his grief, he stayed in Germany to fulfill his missionary commitment. He returned to Idaho in May of 1958.

After his mission, Gary met Cheryl Patricia Armstrong for a blind date. He kissed Cheryl on the cheek on that first evening. “I never kissed girls on the first date,” he wrote in his autobiography. Somehow, he knew that Cheryl would become the love of his life. They married in December 1958 in the Salt Lake Temple. Their honeymoon was delayed until 1959, when they hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up—a choice he later admitted was a mistake. He would spend decades making up for it by taking Cheryl to exotic locations around the world. Throughout their marriage of 67 years, Gary was always a loving, loyal, and supportive husband.

Gary graduated from medical school at the University of Utah in 1963 with high honors. He completed a year of training in Dallas. In 1964, he began his ophthalmology residency at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, one of the top programs in the country. From December 1966 to March 1967, Gary and Cheryl took their three young children—Linda (7), Steven (4), and Brian (3)—to El Salvador so Gary could gain intensive hands-on experience performing eye surgeries. They then returned to St. Louis to complete his residency.

In late 1967, Gary and Cheryl made a significant move from the Mormon pioneer culture of Idaho and Utah to Fresno, California, where Gary joined Dr. Snow in practice. "Snow and Fogg" became a source of amusement for patients and a fixture in the Central Valley. Gary built a thriving ophthalmology practice with over 100 employees and was known as one of the finest eye doctors and surgeons in the region. He loved being an eye doctor and serving people. He hired his children to work alongside him in his office, where they witnessed firsthand his care for patients.

In 1998, Gary and Cheryl moved to Bountiful, Utah. For the next decade, Gary would regularly fly between Bountiful and Fresno to continue working with his son Steven, who had joined the Fresno medical practice. Gary stopped performing surgery in 2004 at age 69, which was a difficult transition. He continued seeing patients in his office, helping them in many ways. He loved helping people so much that he didn't want to retire.

Gary and Cheryl raised seven children: Linda Fogg-Phillips (Brent, deceased), Steven (Stephanie), Brian “BJ” (Dennis), Mike, Kimberly Steele (Lex, deceased), and Rebecca Fife (David). Their son Gregory preceded Gary in death, passing away at age 8 in 1985. The family believes Gregory was present in spirit as Gary passed, surrounded by loved ones in their Bountiful home. Gary and Cheryl have 25 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

Gary loved being a father and grandpa more than anything else. He was encouraging, playful, strict, and generous all at the same time. He was called “Papa” by his grandkids, who adored him and sought him out for wisdom and advice. He always had a listening ear and an encouraging word. He offered insights and actions to help them solve their problem. He would then follow up with a phone call to get an update and offer more help.

Scouting was important to Gary throughout his life. In addition to becoming an Eagle Scout as a boy, he travelled to Valley Forge for the National Jamboree. He was a champion in starting fire from flint and steel -- just one stroke -- as well as using just a bow and a stick. As an adult, he encouraged his sons in scouting. He served as a scout leader for the Church. In 1986 he trained at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, returning there periodically over the years. He was committed to the ideals of scouting, and he wore his Philmont belt buckle for decades, including during his final weeks of life.

Gary had immense love for his Savior, Jesus Christ. He would bear his testimony often to his children and grandchildren. His service in the Church was extensive and heartfelt, as he shared hope, love, and encouragement. He was diligent in many callings, including bishop, stake president, and temple sealer. He had the privilege of sealing his grandchildren in temple marriages. In 2000, Gary and Cheryl were called to serve as missionaries at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Later, they served as ordinance workers in the Bountiful Utah Temple. From 2004 to 2011, they also served multiple LDS humanitarian missions, paying their own way to bring medical expertise to 25 countries, including Romania, Nigeria, and Liberia. Gary's faith and desire to help others continued until his final days.

Gary was meticulous about paying tithing to the Church. He kept a detailed handwritten financial ledger for over 50 years to ensure he paid accurately. In the final weeks of his life, he realized he owed seven more cents in tithing and made certain it was paid—a testament to his integrity and devotion.

In 1992, Gary and Cheryl built a cabin on Bill's Island in Island Park, Idaho—near where Gary often fished as a boy with his father. The Fogg family named their cabin "Fogged Inn," and it became Gary's happy place. “I love to fish!” he wrote in his autobiography. For many years until the present time, Fogged Inn has been the gathering spot for the annual Fogg family reunions.

Gary was a man who loved working with his hands—whether performing surgery, woodworking, building computers, tying flies, cooking, or doing home repairs. He loved to fix things himself and taught his children to do the same. He was a superb craftsman, known for building top-notch pinewood derby cars, which garnered his sons some trophies that they proudly displayed. Gary loved high quality tools. However, his kids confess that their father didn’t like hunting for those tools after someone failed to return them to the proper places.

Gary took his kids on many outdoor adventures, such as sailing, camping, hiking, and kayaking. On the home front, he often made breakfast for his children before early morning seminary. In the evenings, he never shied away from doing dishes. In fact, as a father he would often counsel his kids to “do more dishes” -- his universal solution to most any problem. Gary encouraged his children to have good habits and to achieve -- to play sports, to work hard in school, to run for student office, and to start their own businesses.

When Gary's children describe their father, they point to his defining qualities: he was kind, hardworking, goal-oriented, organized, entrepreneurial, generous, and possessed a fun sense of humor.

Gary’s children know their father lived a life full of service. They know their father had an unshakable faith in God. They know he genuinely loved people. Gary taught his children that people may not remember what you say, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Throughout his 90 years, Gary exemplified faith, integrity, and selfless service. He healed thousands through his skilled hands as a surgeon, strengthened his community through decades of Church service, and inspired his family to pursue lives of meaning and achievement. His dedication to his covenants—down to the very last seven cents—reflected a man who understood that character is built in the smallest choices as much as the largest actions. Gary's influence will continue through the generations he shaped and the countless lives he blessed.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 1800 Mueller Park Road, Bountiful, Utah, where a viewing will be held Sunday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Monday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to services.

A live stream will be provided by the ward at this link: https://zoom.us/j/96794098205