Anthony David Myrick

Anthony Myrick, 16, beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend, passed away Jan. 30, 2024 in Sandy, Utah. He was born July 23, 2007 in Merced, Calif., to Ira and Janell Myrick.  

A junior at Alta High School, Anthony was active in such Alta Instrumental Music Department programs as Marching Band, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Winter Line. He also participated in the Canyons All-District Mega Marching Band and Canyons Symphony Orchestra. He recently discovered that he enjoyed trigonometry as well as his computer programming classes and loved to frequently share his knowledge and accomplishments with his computer-programmer Mom. 

Anthony was a passionate and dedicated musician, especially with the saxophone and bassoon. He had a love for music at an early age, and when he started learning how to play instruments, his passion exploded into an incredible talent.  He loved to share that talent with his grandmother, “Bama,” who encouraged and supported his love of music from the start.

Anthony, known as “Tony” in his music circle, loved jazz music and was becoming an up-and-coming jazz saxophonist. He loved the deep low tones of the baritone sax and wanted to own a bass saxophone so badly. He was well known for using the traffic-cone technique in the bell of the sax to create the lower sounds he desired. He embraced his passion for performing and could often be seen playing the saxophone in the halls and commons of Alta High. You could even spot him busking occasionally in front of a store or in a parking lot. He also was the baritone saxophone player for the Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse Studios 2023 ska band, LoFi Riot. 

He would play from his soul at home for hours at a time on any instrument he could find or even create. He had such a deep passion and was learning new things with friends with all things music. He loved to encourage others to play, as well. 

He was a huge fan of Asian food, especially sushi. He loved cooking and had been experimenting with different types of food. 

He loved the outdoors and exploring. He loved animals and animals were naturally attracted to him, too. 

He was a tinkerer. Even as a young child he would disassemble old radios and computers to play with the parts, trying to create something else. As he grew older, this turned into learning how to fix instruments and computers. He loved fixing things for his friends. He would work with his Dad in the garage helping on car projects and such. He was such a great helper to someone in need.

As a baby, he was nicknamed “Monkey” by his adopted Aunts, whom he adored. He had a fun and silly nature that could make people chuckle, especially with his mastery of the “sprinkler dance.” 

Anthony was such a caring and wonderful big brother. He would play for hours with his siblings and especially helped care for his littlest brother with special needs. He had such a special bond with each of his little brothers. He loved them so much. 

Anthony is survived by his parents Janell and Ira Myrick and his younger brothers, Andrew and Lucas Myrick; his grandparents, Walter and Bambi Schmidt and Sarah and Robert Burson; and his Aunts and Uncles, Dennis (Amelia) Schmidt, Julee Schmidt, Brian (Randy) Schmidt, Sarah (Jeff) D’Andrea, Jane (Jay) Reininger, David (Lena) Myrick and Juan Myrick. He is blessed with many cousins and truly loved them all.

He is joined in heaven by his great-grandfather Dr. Harold “Fafe” Schmidt; grandfather Lewis Myrick; his Aunt “Auntie Beff” Beth Harris; cousins Suzanne Weststeyn and Mark Sevick, and adopted Aunt Kelly Clawson. 

Anthony encouraged so many of his peers in their musical endeavors, telling them a phrase to keep playing when one would struggle. He loved making music so much that it was a part of who he was. In his honor we would like to continue to use that phrase for anyone who is struggling in any way.  So, in the encouraging words Anthony would use when he saw others faltering: Just keep playing 

#keepplaying 

Viewing

Friday Feb. 9, 

Anderson & Goff Mortuary

11859 S. 700 East

Draper, UT 84020

6-8 p.m.

Services 

Saturday, Feb. 10

LDS Stake Center Building 

1265 E. 11000 South

Sandy, UT 84094

10:30 - 11 a.m. music jam session 

11 a.m. Service 

Live video feed for service: https://zoom.us/j/97629720362

Burial Immediately following:

Larkin Sunset Gardens

1950 E. 10600 South 

Sandy, UT 84092

(in the circle Gardens of Christus)