Patrick Albert Hearty passed away at age 79 on June 19, 2026, at home while recovering from surgery.
Pat was born to Clyde and Gertrude Hearty in 1947 and raised in Grantsville, Utah alongside his beloved sister, Cherry. Pat was well-liked around town and was the Grantsville High School Student Body President in 1965. Pat served an LDS mission in West Germany and maintained a love for the German language, culture, and people for the rest of his life. He completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry at Brigham Young University where he met the love of his life, Linda, to whom he was married for 49 wonderful years. Pat and Linda raised four rowdy children and had many adventures over five decades together. Pat was very active in his church callings and particularly enjoyed his association with the young men’s and Scouting organizations in their South Jordan neighborhood. After retiring from 30+ years as a chemist at OSHA, Pat and Linda moved back “home” to Grantsville where he thoroughly enjoyed being around friends and extended family. Pat loved backpacking with his good friends, John and Ralph, riding good horses as part of the National Pony Express Association, playing in a rock band called Mustang Alley, and serving in the Deseret Peak Temple. A lifelong student of Western history, the Pony Express, and cowboy culture, Pat found enjoyment in participating in the Utah Westerners, where he shared his love and knowledge of the American West with fellow historians and enthusiasts. With his friend, Dr. Joseph Hatch, he co-authored Images of America: The Pony Express in Utah.
Pat is survived by his wife Linda, children Matt (Tiffany), Jeff (Halie), Kellie (Kevin), Gregg, 12 grandchildren, sister Cherry, and was proceeded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Bryant Hanson, and grandson Ethan. Pat was a great son, brother, husband, uncle, dad, grandpa, and friend to so many people; we will miss him dearly. In Dad’s memory, strap on that backpack, saddle that horse, find ways to serve others, and do the activities that bring joy into your heart.
Friends and family are invited to pay their respects at viewings on Monday June 29th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Tuesday June 30th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Grantsville Cherry Street Church (115 East Cherry Street, Grantsville). The funeral will be held on Tuesday June 30th at 12 Noon at the Cherry Street Church with internment at the Grantsville City Cemetery under the care of Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Home and Cremation Center. A webcam link and online condolences and memories can be found/shared at daltonhoopes.com.
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Stream of the service is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Event Code: 873567
23 Responses
We are so sorry for the loss of your Dad. He sounds like an amazing man. Your family is in our prayers. Love from Texas! Monnie and Zack Lucas
Pat was and is a good man!
I was saddened by the news of Pat’s passing. He was a wonderful man. We were riding buddies and also members of the National Pony Express Association together. Pat gave so much of his time and talents to preserving the history of this great organization. I enjoyed the times we spent out on the trail. I bet Pat is up in heaven riding his favorite horse. My condolences go out to Linda and the rest of his family. Happy Trails, Pat.
Pat was one in a million! Linda, I am holding you and your family in prayer as you grieve & grow. May your love and memories sustain you in the days to come.
Doug and I are so sad to hear of Pat’s passing. Linda you and your family are in our prayers. Love and hugs.
Such sad news. I so enjoyed Pat during our various Pony Express activities and he was always wealth of knowledge about Pony Express history. My condolences to his family. Leesburg on riding your pony, Pat!
Sorry to hear of Pat’s passing. Was a great person. Will miss our ice cream outing’s at NPEA conventions with him and Linda. You are all in our prayers. Happy trails my friend!!!!
The best dad I had growing up. I love you Pat, thanks for loving me like one of your own! ❤️
I’m so sorry for this time of loss. Having read the thoughts from family and friends. Perhaps he may have known an old friend of mine. Mr. Tom See knew the Pony Express very well. Hopefully they collaborated along the way.
Dear Linda and family…. so sorry to hear about Pat. Sending my condolences and hugs. Pat was a grand man and we are all lucky to have had him riding along in our lives. NPEA and all will miss him! Happy trails Pat, thanks for the work, time and fun we all have had with you…. Quackgrass Sally
We are so sorry for the loss of Pat. He was such a kind and caring man. He will truly be missed. Sending prayers and love to your family with his passing.
After enjoying Pat and Linda’s gracious presence at the Pony Express convention last September here in Elko, Nevada, we are shocked and saddened to hear of Pat’s passing. He was a good friend and a valuable historian for “the Pony”. He loved his work and treasured his wife and family. We will miss him! Sending our condolences….
What a great man Pat was. We enjoyed being your home teachers/ministers for many years. Our lives were blessed as we became your friends. Linda we love and support you always.
Ken and Jennie Hale
Truly one of the good guys. Condolences to all, we lost a good one.
I have known and admired Patrick Hardy with the Pony Express, carrying the mail, and at national conventions, and the Utah Westerners for which he sponsored me into membership. Backcountry horse rides. There is something that all of us do not know about Pat, Years ago, somewhere west of the Oquirrh Mountains some World War II gas bombs were stored for years. There was comment that they must be inactivated. The government did not look in the yellow pages to find someone, they located a brilliant, BYU chemist. many thought the government’s choice might be a stupid one, but, it was totally successful. Who was this man? It was Patrick Hardy. The savior of the West Desert and maybe the entire country. I miss him so much. Dr. Joe. Hatch
I have known and admired Pat Hardy with the Pony Express, as we carried the mail, at National PE conventions, and at the Westerners when he sponsored my membership. Back country horse rides became our favorite activity. Pat was a brilliant BYU trained chemist, which blessed him with a special occupation and many lifetime responsibilities. Linda, and family, we send our condolences. We miss him so very much.
Dr Joe Hatch
Thank you for letting me know. Tedi and I are so sad to hear this news. He was a great mission companion. Hope to see you at the viewing and funeral.
Pat was a dear friend of my father, Fred Abernethy, and they had many adventures and annual meetings together for the Pony Express. Pat was a true gentleman and he will be missed. Our love and condolences to Linda and family.
Dearest Linda and family, love and condolences are sent your way; along with prayers of comfort and peace. The memories you have built will bring joy and heartfelt peace.
I have been a Pony Express buddy with Pat Hearty for 35 years. It is not easy to realize my good friend has moved on to eternal trails in the sky. My deepest condolences to Linda and family. They are great people. I will always hold Pat in my heart as Mr. Pony Express.
Pat was always there to help. He always had his guitar at camp outs. I remember at Summer camp at Potter’s Ponds sitting around the campfire and listening to him play and we sang. What a lot of great memories. He will be missed.
We at Clark Historic Farm will forever feel the loss of Pat Hearty, one of the great men and historians of his generation. For nearly 10 years at our Kids’ Historic Farm Camps Pat brought his love of the Pony Express and the American West to share with the rising generation. We will miss his stories and his demonstration of riding his horse down the lane to exchange the mochilla with Jerry Hurst or his grandaughter. One fond memory was the year a horse rared up at the point of exchange and caused some excitement for the on-looking group of wide-eyed youngsters. One of them shouted, “It’s a wodeo!” Every year at the mochilla exchange we smile at this “wodeo” memory (and hope it doesn’t repeat)!
Happy trails, Pat! You have certainly lived an influential life in many, many circles. We extend our love and sympathy to Linda and family members, and we feel your loss.
We had the opportunity to get to know Pat as we helped our friend Craig Anderson with a few Son’s of the Pioneer activities. We are sorry for your loss and are keeping all of you who loved him in our thoughts and prayers.