Cardon Weston Willis

Cardon Weston Willis passed away peacefully on June 22, 2020 at his home with his wife and five of his seven children by his side after a short but intense battle with cancer. He was born on June 8, 1932 in Salt Lake City, UT to Elijah and Norma Willis of Laketown, UT. He is survived by his wife of almost 54 years, Joan, his children Susan (Christopher), Christine (Jason), David (Shannon), Richard, Kathleen (Dave), Benjamin (Kyoungeung) and Carol, 14 grandchildren and his brother, McKay.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers: Reed and Clark. Cardon was raised in Laketown, a small ranching community on the south end of Bearlake. He fondly remembered the many years spent working on the ranch alongside his father, uncle, cousins and brothers. These formative years instilled in him a strong work ethic and a love of the land. In 1950, he graduated from Rich County High School where he was active in sports, chess and other school clubs. He attended Utah State University and then served a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Northern California mission. From 1956 to 1958, he served in the US Army as a sharpshooter while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. During his time in Germany, he had the opportunity to travel throughout western Europe. These travels and the sites he saw left a great impression on him. He said many times that his time in Germany was a great awakening for him. After he completed his service in the US Army, he then completed his education at Utah State University, graduating in 1959 with a degree in Economics. In 1965, he graduated from the University of Washington’s School of Dentistry. While in Seattle, he met his future wife, Joan Carlston. He and Joan were married in the Logan temple on September 16, 1966. After they married, they moved to Lancaster California, where for nearly 40 years he practiced dentistry. In Lancaster, he and Joan raised seven children. He continued his service in the LDS church as bishop, high counselor, and regional welfare representative for the southern California area as well as many other church callings. A life-long love of the land was satiated by gardening. In Lancaster, he had a large garden and a small orchard in his home yard. He grew many vegetables but his pride and joy were a beautiful fig tree and a pomegranate tree. In 2003, Cardon and Joan retired to Laketown where he planted many specialty trees and bushes including a black Russian apricot tree, jostaberry bushes and goji berry bushes. During retirement, he loved to spend time in his garden with his dog Cocoa; he farmed with his son Richard, he taught his grandchildren about investing; and he was an avid reader. He and Joan were able to go on a number of cruises. He enjoyed listening to operas and classical music and had a special interest in health and nutrition. Cardon left a lasting legacy to his children and grandchildren of his family values, strong work ethic, humility, charity and generous nature. We will miss the presence of our husband, father and grandfather, but his legacy will continue for generations.

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