Strike up the band and start singing, “When the Saints Come Marching In”!

Bret Marriott Hart born December 4, 1925 in Preston, Idaho and passed Thursday, January 30, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bret was the youngest of 11 children born to Arthur W and Ada Lowe Hart. His early years on the farm included milking cows, thinning sugar beets, and adventuring on the Bear River bottoms. 

A particular favorite activity included “borrowing” a chicken to roast and watermelons to be enjoyed by the river (an activity fondly termed “chickerees”). The Hart pond was where the sibling hockey team played and became legendary with their victory over the Utah State hockey team.

Later, he would enlist in the Navy during WW2, making a total of 5 brothers serving simultaneously in the war effort (all returned home honorably). Bret trained and became a Signalman 2nd Class, served on the USS Marathon, and was part of the invasion of Okinawa. He survived typhoons, kamikazes, and a torpedo strike.

After returning home, Bret met Rene Mae Christofferson while she was riding a horse (as per her plan). They would marry and raise 5 children in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bret’s life was filled with music-from playing with his brothers in their band to his partnership with Hart Bros Music. He traveled far and wide selling pianos and making trades (some better than others-one was a spider monkey he thought would make a great pet). He tuned countless pianos well into his 80’s. He loved a Dixieland Jazz session or Octoberfest and a good chocolate malt.

Bret lived the Gospel of Jesus Christ, being kind, gentle, and generous with his means and talents-a steady rudder with the patience of a saint. 

He had pitch-perfect hearing and a heart that was always in tune.

Bret has set sail leaving behind his loyal hands-on-deck crew made up of his wife Rene Mae, 5 children and in-laws, Randy and Ann Weaver Hart, Deborah Hart Trotter, Barry and Jayne Baird Hart, Jennifer Hart, Stephanie and David Figgat, and newest recruits, 46 grand and great-grandchildren. Bret has attempted to teach every one of us how to play piano by ear.

If you’re musical or not, consider singing or playing a tune and send it to heaven in honor of a great man from the greatest generation. Anchor’s away Dad!

Bret’s Celebration will be Wednesday, Feb 12th at noon, viewing 10:30-11:45 LDS Chapel 3070 E Nila Way, Holladay, Ut 84124