Stuart Val Staker

It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of Stuart Val Staker on July 30, 2025. A generous and talented man who deeply loved his family and friends, he will be greatly missed.

Val was born in Utah on December 14, 1944 to Stu and Donna Staker. Because his father was in the Navy during WWII and stationed in Guam at the time of his birth, Val didn’t meet his dad until he was one year old. Val also has 3 younger siblings: sisters Peg and Shelly and brother Gordon.

Ever since he was a kid, Val has always been driven, including being one of the youngest in his troop to become an Eagle Scout. After graduating from Olympus High School in 1963, where he played basketball and excelled at track, he joined the Army Reserve and spent 6 months in basic training at Fort Ord, California. One of the loves of Val’s life is the country and people of New Zealand where he served an LDS mission after his army commitment. Even at his passing, he was wearing a Maori pendant around his neck. These early experiences continued as he served in the LDS Church on a bishopricand in the Scouting program. Following Val’s example, all his sons and step-sons also served missions and each carried a medallion in their pocket inscribed “Return with Honor”.

Val worked on an autobiography subtitled, “Always in a Hurry”, which was reflected in his numerous passions. He shared his love for collecting and driving fast cars with many, including racing on a trackand speeding through Utah in the Fast Pass charity fundraiser. With his pilot’s license, Val frequently flew the family down to Lake Powell in his Piper Saratoga. He eventually sold his houseboat and got a house in Dana Point, California, which he generously shared with numerous family members, friends and colleagues. His whole life was a continued adventure throughout the West and around the world including scuba diving, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and riding his Harley.

In 1968, Val married Sandra Miller, a neighbor he was introduced to by his brother, Gordon. Together, Val and Sandy had four children: Brad, Kim, Brittin and Ryan. As a young family, they lived in Murray next to his sister Peg, and all of the Staker cousins grew up as best friends. Val also has a number of step-children who he loved deeply, considering them his kids as well.

To support his growing family, Val worked for Pollard Construction while he studied accounting at the University of Utah. Instead of taking the “safe route”, Val decided he wanted to start his own company. Taking out a $5000 mortgage on his parents’ house, Val began Staker Paving with his father and brother. At first, they would buy used equipment and ran things out of Val’s Murray home – with the “office” in the back bedroom and the “maintenance shop” in the carport. From these humble beginnings, Staker Paving eventually expanded to their first pit at the Point of the Mountain and then to the Beck Street location. Even as the company grew to over 500 employees, Val always treated everyone the same: from the newest employee to the executive team. He was often seen eating his lunch with people in the shop and made sure that everyone shared in his achievements, such letting all of his employees enjoy Jazz games in the Staker box. Val’s success in Utah was noted internationally. After he sold Staker Paving to CRH, he continued to run it as President andwas instrumental in helping CRH continue to expand until, at the time, they were one of the largest asphalt producers in the world.

As he was leaving Staker Paving, Val quickly realized that while he was very good at business, he was very bad at retirement and wanted to diversify, so he started a second career in real estate. Just like with his asphalt company, Staker Development started small with those close to Val, in this case with his childhood friend’s little brother, Boyd. After initial passive real estate investments, things quicklygrew. For the next major project, Monarch Meadows, Val bought out his partners and brought on his two sons, Brad and Ryan, to help actively manage the development. Since then, the company has expanded to include the Pluralsite campus and numerous commercial and apartment projects throughout the Wasatch Front. Even though the industry was different than asphalt, Val’s underlying philosophy remained the key to his success. Val has always loved opportunities to surround himself with best-in-class partners, and people love working with him - valuing his deep insights, his business integrity based on mutual respect, his ability to make things fun, and because he’s always the “calmest guy in the room”. Even when there have been differences of opinion in meetings, everyone has learned to trust his acumen, saying “we always knew Val was right and we were wrong, but at the time, we just didn’t know why.”

While he was successful in starting two major companies, Val’s greatest satisfaction was in sharing his blessings with others, and his generosity is legendary. Hundreds of people have benefited directly from what he has shared with them, from lifelong friends to employees to extended family to people he hardly knew. Even more lasting than what he gave away, however, was his living example of the idea that “inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Val’s generosity and love reflected his deep love of Jesus Christ as a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Val is survived by his daughter: Kim Holmstrom (Mike); 8 grandchildren: Lauren, Erik, Josh, Hailey, Hannah, Avery, Griffin, and Bianca; 3 great-children; and his siblings: Peg, Gordon (Linda), and Shelly. He is preceded in death by children: Brad, Ryan and Brittin;and his parents. Val is also survived by step-children: Jason, Emily, Josh, Jake, Babe, Lora and Silla.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 9, 2025, 1:00pm at the Cottonwood 5th Ward, 5913 S Highland Drive, Holladay, UT. Visitation will be held Friday, August 8, 2025 at the Cottonwood 5thWard from 6:00 - 8:00pm, and the day of the service from 11:30am – 12:45pm. Interment at Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 S Memory Lane, Holladay, UT.

For those unable to attend the funeral services in person:

- A Zoom video link will be available at: bit.ly/ValStakerFuneral

- An audio link will be available 10 minutes prior at: www.cannonmortuary.com

The family wishes to thank Val’s devoted caregivers: Spencer Oberle, Akesiu Fulilangi and Dr. Michael Kagen. They also wish to thank Cannon Mortuary and Cottonwood 5th Ward for their generous help and the love they have for Val.