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EMERY COUNTY -- Darrell Gardner did just about everything in Emery County. At the high school, he taught social science, drove a bus, coached the track team and was part of the community council.
Gardner, age 51, was a beloved member of the community. That makes his recent death even harder for the small town to deal with.
Gardner loved to run.
The Emery County native ran track for Emery High School, then went on to run at Utah State University where he later became an assistant coach. For the last 19 years, he was back home coaching at his alma mater.
"He'd go and run during his prep hour, which was an hour and a half," said Barbie Powell, who is on the Emery High track team. "You'd see him out running around the school. He just loved it. It's what he always wanted to do."
Coach Gardner also wanted to inspire others. His passion and dedication helped Spencer Fehlberg when he thought his track career was over.
"He believed in me and helped me believe in myself and restart my dreams," Fehlberg said. "I was really looking forward to next year because that was going to be the last hurrah."
Tragically for Fehlberg -- and the entire community -- this was Coach Gardner's last season.
On May 31, Memorial Day, a tree that Gardner was trying to remove from his property fell on his backhoe, killing him instantly.
Lee Moss is a fellow teacher, and Gardner's neighbor.
"We're knitted here," Moss said. "We're all knitted together, and when something unravels we all feel it it's a part of all of us."
"He really had a big impact on a lot of people's lives," said Mindy Luke, an Emery High student. "He was just an awesome, happy, fun-going guy so it was a big impact on the community when we lost him."
Less than 24 hours after his death, the student council re-painted the school rock.
"Since then a lot of students and adults, friends, neighbors have stopped by to write sentiments on the rock, to put closure to this and to make heartfelt expressions to someone they really love," said Emery High School principal Larry Davis.
"At his funeral there were people there from all walks of life," said fellow teacher Donn Jeffs. "There were farmers and ranchers and parents of kids he had influenced for over 20 years in this community."
Gardner also taught social dance at the school, teaching students the promenade. And after missing his own junior prom, he finally got to dance in March. That final dance was with his daughter.
Gardner is survived by his wife, Natalie, and three children.
Thursday night at 6 p.m. there will be a "Last Run for Coach Gardner" event at Emery High School to help raise money for the family. For more information, CLICK HERE.
E-mail: kaiken@ksl.com
