Cecil Lester Packard, 83

Cecil Lester Packard, 83, of Viola, entered into the loving arms of his Savior on May 1, 2010, at his home. He was born on Feb. 9, 1927, in Genesee to Lyle and Fay Packard.

He attended schools in Pullman and Moscow. His high school years were interrupted by World War II while he served for 18 months in the Navy. During that time he was in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He then returned to Moscow to graduate mid-year with the class of 1948.

Cecil purchased a timber ranch in 1948. He met Joyce King in May 1949 and they were married in August 1950. Fifty days after their wedding, Cecil was called back into the Navy to San Diego where their first son was born. Cecil and Joyce moved back to the Moscow area in 1952 where two more sons and a daughter were born.

He continued to purchase land and cattle, working the ranch on the weekends, while employed full time for Inland Motor Freight (Garrett Freight Lines.) In 1964, Cecil left freighting to go to work for United Paving (Poe Asphalt), retiring in 1989. In 1970 Cecil was the recipient of the Latah County “Woodsman of the Year” award.

Cecil enjoyed hunting, finding and working with semi-precious stones and especially enjoyed ice fishing with friends. He was also very involved with his church and went on several Work and Witness trips to Panama, South Africa, Israel and the Philippines. He loved to travel and made trips to Alaska, England, Australia and New Zealand.

Cecil is survived by his wife, Joyce at their home in Viola; son Rob (Liz) of Coeur d’ Alene; son Michael (Laura) of Alaska; son Larry (Angie) of Viola and daughter Linda (Dave) of California; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mildred Germer and Wilma Daniels; nieces, nephews and his dog, Gus. He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws and two sisters.

Cecil was a very special man and he never met a stranger. His love for his family was very evident in his life. He will be missed very much by all who knew him. We will never truly know the extent of all the lives he has touched. In his words, “I try to live as best as I can for the Lord Jesus Christ and take the days as they come.”

Cecil is now with Jesus as he wanted and is walking the streets of gold with his savior.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 6, 2010, at the Church of the Nazarene in Moscow.

Short’s Funeral Chapel in Moscow is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.