Richard Daniel Cecil

If you are reading this I have made the transition to the great tank park in the sky, as my friend Dan would say. In reality I have departed Earth life and now I am in the Spirit World to be reunited with family, friends and above all my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I first saw the light of day May 1, 1934 in San Francisco as my father was a Naval Radioman stationed on the Farallon Islands where we were living at the time. My parents were James F. and Carol E. (Fink) Cecil. From there we moved to Panama and then to Seattle. At this time World War II started and Dad left for duty in Naval Aviation in a PBY Squadron stationed in Key West, FL. This required my mother to travel from Seattle via San Diego to Key West with me and my little sister in a 1937 Chevy.

As a kid living in Key West was a “Tom Sawyer” existence including building rafts, fishing, beach combing, gigging mullets, crabbing, camping, and all things a boy would love. During the war we didn’t see much of my Dad but my mother was the outdoor type and she supported the activities.

In 1945 after the war we moved to San Diego where I continued my outdoor activities of camping and Scouting. Because I was allergic to poison oak all my roaming around was in the desert east of San Diego. My favorite place was Jacumba where we hiked to Carrizo Gorge and built a cabin continuing to go there for years. I attended St. Augustin High School and graduated in 1953.

In 1953 I joined the Marine Corp and had 5 tours overseas that included Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam and visited other places in the far east. I received numerous commendations and decorations as a Marine retiring in 1977 a Master Sargent.

In 1968 I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in various callings including Elder’s Quorum President, Scoutmaster, High Council, Bishop and Seminary Teacher.

In 1977 I went to work for Yakima Cement Products as a concrete dispatcher. Many thanks to Bob and Frank Jump for their help in making the transition to civilian life.

I married the love of my life, Dorinda, in 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity.

The Boy Scouts were a big part of my life as a boy and an adult. In 1984 I fulfilled a dream to live and work in the mountains by becoming the Camp Ranger at Camp Fife where we lived and worked for 15 years. One of the high points of my life was my association with the young men and Scout leaders who passed through camp.

Serving the Lord has blessed my life. My wife and I were privileged to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 18 months in 2002 – 2004 in the Singapore Mission.

On returning I worked parttime for the Yakima School District as a para-educator mostly with special needs children. I continued to do so until my hearing got the point I couldn’t hear the kids.

I will always remember the special trips to Longbeach, Ft. Flagler and Lincoln City with dear friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, James and Carol Cecil, his sister, Marilyn Stinson, and his brother, Ralph Roberts.

He is survived by his wife Dorinda Cecil, his children Juanita Roederer, Sylvia Cecil, Richard B. Cecil, Robert Cecil, Connie Fann, Andrew Platter, and Jason Platter, seventeen grandchildren, many great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild, plus several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Naches Church Building, 533 Naches Ave. Naches, WA The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A Graveside service will follow at West Hills Memorial Park with Military Honors conducted by the Marine Corps League.