Michael Dean Barney

Michael Dean Barney was born March 31, 1965 in Salt Lake City, Utah and passed away October 12, 2022 in his home in Herriman, Utah after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. Mike is the 7th of 8 children in the family of A. Dean Barney and Gwen Marler Barney.

Mike attended Highland High School and was a natural athlete playing rugby and football, and was also a gifted artist, going on to study Art at Utah State University, while playing rugby there as well. Scouting was a lifelong adventure for Mike. He excelled as an Eagle Scout, later serving as a Scout leader enhancing the lives of many. He served a successful mission for the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in the Seoul West Korea mission from 1985 to 1987. There he was the assistant to the president as his dedication was unwavering and his language ability unparalleled. Mike excelled at Korean/English simultaneous translation, having a thorough enjoyment of learning Korean. Mike made many lasting friendships while serving the Lord. He met the love of his life while serving in Cheonon Korea, a fellow missionary known then as Sister Portia Call, who he later courted and married in August 1987 in the Oakland California LDS Temple. Mike earned his BA from Utah State thereafter.

For the remainder of Mike’s life, he was a true and faithful member of the church, always willing to help in any capacity asked of him. His love for people was strong, as revealed in his passion for being a father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Mike was known as the doting father who frequently expressed his love by drawing pictures and writing poetry on his children’s lunch bags. To his parents he once wrote, “our kids are not only cute, but also charming, enchanting, wonderful, intelligent, insightful, silly, happy, nutty, funny, and fantastic”...as only a hugely attentive father poet like Mike could.

Mike was an avid cyclist, often commuting to work, and frequently doing bicycle tours with his brothers across multiple states. He loved camping, hiking, cross country skiing, and gardening. His love of the outdoors was strong. He loved being with not only his immediate family but with his large extended family on a regular basis. One such favorite activity was taking his grandchildren on adventures, having great enjoyment in teasing and laughing with them. Another favorite activity was taking his children on scenic excursions, hiking to the brink of fatigue, only stopping when reaching breathtaking views.

Mike was an employee of Valassis Direct Mail Advertising, rising from line management to Plant Manager in both the Utah and Denver markets for over 20 years. He was a dedicated hard worker - dependable, upright, and highly valued by his peers and superiors. Mike found great satisfaction in a job well done.

What Mike loved was superseded by the character of the man. People describe him as calm, kind, witty, and thoughtful. He was known for his quiet strength and wisdom, his easy going nature, a beautiful soul…a splendor of a man.

Mike is survived by his wife Portia, son Zachary (Calista), daughters Rachel Mark (David) and Hannah Umana (Vinnie), and grandchildren Brooklyn, Moses, Rex, Donovan, Kevin, Ashlyn, and Autumn. Also surviving Mike are his 4 brothers Marcus (Heather), Quintin, Justin (Bonnie), Scott (Sharla), and his 3 sisters Livonia Hansen (Marty), Jennifer Young (Bert), and Colleen Nye (Brad). Mike is preceded in death by his dear mother and father, Dean and Gwen Barney, and sweet niece, Alexandra Barney.

Our family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and Huntsman at Home.

A viewing will be held Monday, October 17, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Anderson & Goff Mortuary at 11859 So. 700 E., Draper, Utah. Funeral services will be Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel at 5017 Grand View Peak Drive, Herriman, Utah. Interment will be at SLC Cemetery at 4th Avenue & N St., Salt Lake City, Utah.