Willard Parker

Willard Stuart Parker

September 4, 1926 ~ February 24, 2016

A celebration of the life of Willard Stuart Parker will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016.

Willard Stuart Parker passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 8:20 a.m. at the Peachtree Assisted Living residence home in West Haven, Utah. He was born September 4, 1926 in Wellsville, Utah. His parents were Willard Henry Parker and Catherine Schofield Stuart. He attended schools in Davis County and graduated from Davis High School on the 19th day of May 1944.

During World War II, he served in the United States Army and also did two years as a Merchant Marine. He was stationed in many areas of Europe during his time in the Army, and as a Merchant Marine he saw much of the world. He enjoyed telling stories of his many travels and experiences, entertaining the children and grandchildren. Some of those stories included his shooting abilities, wherein he was always ranked in the highest categories of being an expert marksman. He continued to enjoy this shooting ability as experienced on many deer hunting and other hunting trips.

Willard married Shirley May Bell on July 14, 1948 in the Logan LDS Temple. He and Shirley were the parents of seven children. The family resided and children were raised in Roy, Utah.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sherry May Bell Parker and a son, Wayne Bell Parker. He is survived by his wife, Shirley, of Roy; W. Dennis Parker and wife, Susie, of Roy; Wayne Bell Parker’s wife, Denise, of Hooper; Joe Leland Parker and wife, Coleen, of Boulder, UT; Drew Bell Parker and wife, Laurie, of Wellsville; Marie Bell Whale and husband, Ron, of Syracuse; and Sid Bell Parker and wife, Susan, of West Point. He enjoyed his family of 39 grandchildren and 84 great-grandchildren, to date.

Willard worked at Hill Air Force Base as an aircraft sheet metal worker, electrician, and electrical inspector. He retired from the base after 33 years of service. He then worked for the LDS church, maintaining the Roy West Stake Center and other chapels, for an additional ten tears.

He enjoyed serving in many callings and positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as a Stake Missionary, High Priest Group Leader, as a member of the Roy West Stake High Council, a member of Bishopric’s, and as Singles Ward Bishop. He was also active in Choirs and had a beautiful tenor singing voice, and was called upon to solo many programs. He was fun and humorous; he enjoyed laughter and a good joke, and emceed many ward dinners.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the West Point Seventh Ward Chapel, 550 North 2300 West. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. at the same location on Saturday morning.

A luncheon for family members and close friends will follow the services, also to be held at the church.

Interment, Roy City Cemetery.