John Joseph Garahana Jr.

Friday, Dec. 27, 2024

John Joseph Garahana Jr. 

March 3, 1932 ~ Dec. 13, 2024

John Joseph Garahana Jr. died December 13, 2024 surrounded by his loving family. 

He was born March 3,1932 in Bingham Canyon to John Joseph Garahana Sr. and Marcelina Jayo Garahana, and later moved to Midvale.

John’s first love was baseball. He played American Legion and high school baseball at Bingham High School. He was known as “Monk” during school. John attended the University of Utah until he was drafted in the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Army as a corporal from 1952-1954. He worked at Kennecott Copper for 35 years, retiring in 1985.

John was an avid bowler and met the love of his life, Sherlene Roby, at the bowling alley. They were happily married for 66 years in their home in Sandy. He was a long-time parishioner of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

Dad enjoyed ping pong, badminton, crossword puzzles, reading the newspaper, Readers Digest, National Geographic, and a good cup of hot chai tea. He loved shooting hoops with the kids and grandkids “third brick from the top.” He coached Little League Baseball for many years. He enjoyed history and science. His love of dinosaurs inspired him to consider being a paleontologist.

He is survived by wife Sherlene; daughters Michelle (Kim) Cowley, Marci (Kendall) Smith, Lisa Fillmore; son Michael Garahana; 10 grandkids:  Shaun Cowley, Lance Cowley (LeRoy Merworth), Rachelle (James) Little, Zach (Jennifer) Smith, Brittnee (Neal) McGarry, Taylor (Maddy) Smith, Chandler (Haylie) Smith, Arienne (Brenden) Haywood, Andrew Fillmore (Trinitey Marx) and Aaron Fillmore; 16 great-grandkids: Morgan and Mikey Cowley, Adam and Jonathan Little, Colt, Kamryn, Luke and Ty McGarry, Remi, Navy, Sadie and Boston Smith, Stella, Stockton and Sloane Smith, and Raelynn Haywood.  

John was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Paulino Garahana, Carmen Mascaro, Rose Sainsbury and Tom Garahana.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated December 20, 2024 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Interment followed at Larkin Sunset Gardens.

We would like to thank Ben, Diana and Eliza with Hospice for helping with our dad.  

Go, Yankees!