Roy Corder

Roy David Corder, 79, passed away October 10, 2019 in St. George, UT. He was born January 7, 1940 in Butler, Missouri to John Paul King Corder and Rebecca Katherine (Debrick) Corder.

Roy was born in a rural residence about 7 miles south of Butler, Missouri. In the summer of 1942 his parents, sister, brother and himself moved to Wilder, Idaho, a journey that took 2 weeks. He attended first grade in Wilder Grade School. In 1947 the family moved to Roswell, Idaho, about 3 miles from Parma, Idaho. He graduated from Roswell Grade School in 1954. Roswell did not have a high school so he attended high school in Parma, Idaho graduating in 1958. Roy was a farm boy and worked during grade school and high school on farms during the summer to earn enough money to help pay to go to school. Roy worked hard all of his life and instilled that work ethic in his children. In the fall of 1958 he went to work logging in New Meadows, Idaho. He set chokers and drove a Caterpillar tractor skidding logs. In 1960, he moved to Bend, Oregon where he operated Caterpillar tractors skidding logs and building logging roads.

On October 27, 1961 he married Lavonna Kate Snow in the LDS chapel in Caldwell, Idaho. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ and they were sealed in the Los Angeles Temple on June 30, 1964. In 1965, he moved his family to Baker, Oregon where he was an Oregon State Police Officer. In 1971, he was transferred to Enterprise, Oregon in the fish and game department and in 1976 he went back on the traffic division in Tillamook, Oregon. In 1981, his work with the state police ended and in 1985 he bought a semi truck and started driving long haul, traveling all 48 states and 4 provinces of Canada.

In 1986 with the children all away from home he and Lavonna moved to Elm City, North Carolina. In 1991, they bought a small acreage in Winchester Hills near St. George, Utah and had a home built there. They moved to this home October 1, 1991. Roy retired in Dec. 2001 from trucking. After retiring he enjoyed fishing, hunting deer and elk, gardening and attending Dixie High School ball games. His greatest trip was for caribou in Canada with his son and son-in-law. Roy was an all around worker, able to fix most anything. He learned mechanics from his father and books, and did all kinds of mechanical chores for friends, even rebuilding engines before the computer age hit. In January 2006 he bought a black lab puppy, naming him Shadow, who was his pride and joy and constant companion, who he is reunited with now.

Roy was preceded in death by is parents, 2 brothers Clifford Lee Corder (died at birth) and John William Corder, and a great grand daughter Maryjane Pearl Sutherland. He is survived by his wife of almost 58 years, Lavonna Kate Corder of St. George, Utah, 3 children Penny JoAnn McCoy (Trent) of Salem, OR, Ricky David Corder (Mary) of Fenton, MI, and Debby Kay Grant of St. George, UT, sister Katherine Lois (Corder) Abbot of Middleton, ID, 8 grand children and 5 great grand children.

Family was important to Roy and he tried to get to all special occasions throughout the years, weddings, graduations, baptisms, priesthood ordinations, and sporting events. He loved his children and grandchildren and tried to always be there for them.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, October 14th at 11:00 am at the Winchester Hills Chapel, 5338 Winchester Dr., St. George, Utah 84770.  A viewing will be held prior to the service from 10:00-10:45 am. Interment will in Tonaquint Cemetery.