Mykal Hagler

Obituary humbly written by his “favorite” sister Connie Land

“What we do in life echoes in eternity”

No truer words were ever spoken for a man who was larger than life and lived a life of passion, love, spirituality, and adventure. A life truly lived with no regrets.

Mykal Dennis Hagler began his incredible life’s adventure on this earth July 11, 1958. The first-born son to his proud and doting parents, Mac and Gayle Hagler.

Mykal quickly embraced the role of older brother as mentor, protector, confidant, friend and, as with all older siblings, the prankster and tormentor. Mykal loved his siblings more than himself--Lisa, Lynda, Connie, and Mark. Mykal was blessed to have two brothers, Gary and Jeffery, who passed early on in life as his guardian angels. A very close-knit family filled with the love, music, sports, laughter, compassion, vacations, and an insatiable appetite for learning.

Mykal’s lifelong role model was his dad. As a child, he followed him everywhere. As an adult, they became the absolute best of friends. He followed his dad’s example on how to be a good husband, provider, and friend to his wife and family. His mom was his biggest supporter and cheerleader. She taught him how to be a better man. Together, they taught him the priceless gift of unconditional love, value of friendship, and how to love his bride. His mom taught him to “listen with your eyes”, and Mykal followed that motto throughout his life and marriage.

Mykal lived a life only a select few will ever experience. He found the perfect partner and they were fortunate enough to spend every day filled with love and friendship. This was his soulmate and wife, his “best friend of 40 years” Terri Lyn Walker Hagler. They were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple on August 15, 1980.

Their love affair began before they even fell in love, growing up in the same ward and group of friends in southern California. Their friendship and love quickly blossomed as they discovered the same love for sports, music, family, church. A match made in heaven. If you ever imagined the greatest love story ever told, it would be of Mykal and Terri.

Their love for family grew as they welcomed their son Brandon into their family. If the heart could expand even more, it did with the addition of a loving daughter-in-law Rashell and five grandchildren, Josh, Briar, Aiden, Nia, and Enik. They were Mykal’s pride and joy. He loved spending every minute he could with each one of them.

“Rumfords” were created by our grandmother Avis and passed down to Mykal’s parents. Rumfords are surprise trips and adventures that the recipient was unaware of until the event. Mykal carried on the tradition with his own family and grandchildren. Special memories together that will last a lifetime.

Mykal loved woodworking, music, car restoration, and travel. All of his adventures included his family. They traveled all over the world, experiencing different cultures and countries. They went on Junk boats in Vietnam, stayed in treetops in the Amazon, traveled throughout Europe and South America, and took a month long road trip to see the country. Mykal loved the miracle and gift of this earth, created by our Heavenly Father to enjoy.

Mykal loved fast cars and had a passion for them. He and Brandon spent priceless moments together restoring cars. Terri and Mykal spent hours creating beautiful objects and furniture from wood. One of his biggest creative accomplishments was a guitar he designed and made from scratch. It is now in safe keeping with grandson Aiden who will cherish this gift from his grandfather.

One of their favorite loves was music. Together, they loved going to concerts, listening to music, learning to play instruments including the drums, piano, cello and guitar. Mykal knew everything about bands--the people in the bands, side projects they were involved in. You name it, Mykal knew it! His love for music carries on through his son and grandsons.

Mykal cherished his lifelong relationships with his friends. Friends were a very important aspect of his life and he has stayed close with them throughout the years.

Mykal was very athletic. He got his love for sports from his dad who played professional baseball while in his youth. Mykal played basketball, football, swimming, and baseball. His favorite, however, was basketball. Mykal also loved horseracing, something he enjoyed with his grandmother, Avis. The time with his grandmother was precious and horseracing was a way to steal extra time with her.

Terri, coming from a large family, meant Mykal had seven more instant siblings –Wendy, Keith, Gary, Jeff, Greg, Rick, and Darren. All the siblings loved traveling and vacationing together. Mykal and Terri recently built a home in Ivins Utah, next to the Walker family brothers, Darren and Jeff. Keith lives within a few miles. What a blessing to be so close to the Walker family! He loved them so.

Mykal held jobs and had his own businesses from a young age -- cleaning offices, selling chicken eggs, paper routes, and lawn mowing business. While attending high school he took night classes and worked fulltime at the local hospital!

Mykal received the coveted Eagle award in boy scouts, one of his proudest accomplishments. He attended Lowell High School and later attended BYU, before serving his mission in Munich Germany.

Mykal loved the LDS Church and loved his Heavenly Father. It was the core and foundation in which he lived his life. A life of Christlike love and service. He dedicated his life to the service of others and held countless positions in the LDS Church.

Mykal returned to school at the age of 31, graduating from BYU and receiving his MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Mykal loved medicine and wanted to become a doctor. He was accepted to medical school in Guadalajara but made the difficult decision to decline the offer and look at other positions in the medical field. He was fortunate enough to take his passion and knowledge in the human body and medicine and he excelled at a rapid pace in the field of pharmaceuticals.

Mykal’s life forever changed on February 28, 2015 when he experienced a cranial aneurysm. In less than 18 months he had 6 surgeries, countless stays in the hospital, and a shunt placement which was what kept Mykal alive.

That did not stop Mykal. Nothing would keep him from living the life he wanted to live. He was a walking inspiration and miracle, living life on his own terms and conditions. Mykal did this until his last breath.

A faithful servant to his Heavenly Father, he was especially blessed that Terri and Brandon were allowed to be at his side as he left this earth. Mykal was welcomed to the loving open arms of this mom Gayle, brothers Gary and Jeffery, niece Sydney, and grandparents. What a joyous reunion that must have been!

Mykal is survived by his beautiful wife Terri, son Brandon, daughter-in-law Rashell, grandchildren Josh, Briar, Aiden, Nia, and Enik, father Mac, and Mykal’s siblings, Lisa Linder, Lynda Harvey (Charles), Connie Land (Steve), and Mark Hagler (Kelly). Along with Mykal’s many nieces and nephews, we embrace his legacy and his example and will remember him always.

Alma 37:34   “Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart: for such shall find rest in their souls.”