Willard Clark McMullin

Willard Clark McMullin peacefully passed away on Friday, April 21, 2023, at the age of 96. Clark was born February 16, 1927, to Willard "Bill" and Verle Lund McMullin in St. George, Utah. Clark spent his childhood in Lusk, Wyoming, and Cedar City, Utah, before returning to St. George where he graduated from Dixie High School. After graduating from Dixie High School in 1944, he enlisted at age 17 in the Navy, where he was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Saginaw Bay stationed in the South Pacific. At the end of the war, he was honorably discharged and returned to St. George and enrolled at Dixie College. In 1948, Clark graduated with his Associates of Science degree and went into business with his father Bill. Together they opened the exclusive McMullin's Mens Wear. In September of 1948 Clark married Ora Lee Gardner in the St. George Temple. Upon his father's passing in 1961, Clark ran the business for 10 more years. Shortly after selling the Mens Wear business in 1971, Clark went to work as the Director of Student Financial Aid at Dixie College. 

During his career at Dixie College, he served under five different Presidents, holding the positions and responsibilities of Director of Purchasing, Direct of Human Resources, Telecommunications, Capital Equipment Inventory, and Risk Management. The most significant achievement during Clark's tenure as Director of Purchasing was the acquisition of 33 parcels of land upon which many of the university structures now sit, including the Cox Auditorium, the Burn's Area, and the football stadium. Because of Clark's fair negotiating abilities, all those parcels were acquired without any eminent domain or litigation. This has allowed the campus to continue growing as it is today.

During his employment with Dixie College, Clark served as Chairman of the Utah Procurement Advisory Council and as the President of the Celebrity Concert Series. Clark has also been a member of the Applause Board of the Heritage Choir. In 2018 Clark received the "Rebel Award" from the Dixie State University Alumni Association. 

Clark was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he faithfully served in several clerk positions, as an executive secretary, in two bishoprics, and as a high councilor. He especially loved his time serving as Bishop in the Dixie College Stake. Clark served a mission with his wife, Ora Lee, in the Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Mission from 2001-2002.

Clark and Ora Lee loved to golf and spent many evenings after work playing a round of golf with dear friends at the Dixie Red Hills Golf Course.

After almost 60 years of marriage, Clark's dear wife Ora Lee passed away in 2007. In 2010 Clark married Dorothy Waldron Bunn, with whom he spent the last 13 years of his life. Dorothy was a godsend to Clark. As Clark's eyesight diminished due to macular degeneration, Dorothy kept Clark up on current affairs by reading newspapers and books to him. They were inseparable. 

Clark might have been small in stature but to his family and friends he was a "Gentle Giant" of a man. He was a man of faith, integrity, kindness, obedience, humility, and service. He was very grateful for each, and every act of kindness shown to him.

Clark is survived by his wife, Dorothy; four children: daughter, Jane (Murray) Gubler, St. George; sons, Paul (Roberta) McMullin, St. George; Jeff (Jill) McMullin, Gilbert, Arizona; Jon Barry (Tamra) McMullin, Darien, Connecticut; and sister, MarJeanne Laub, Las Vegas, Nevada; 18 Grandchildren, 48 Great-Grandchildren, and 2 Great-Great-Grandchildren.

The family appreciates the compassionate and loving care Clark received from the staff at the Southern Utah Veterans Home, and hospice nurse Caitlin. Clark was able to attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ivins VA Branch, where he was loved and visited by the Branch Presidency and members weekly. 

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 11:00 am, at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 South Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. A viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30 am, prior to services. Interment will be in the St. George Cemetery.

Family and friends that were unable to attend the services in person are welcome to view them virtually by clicking the link below:

Video on Demand

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to leave a memory on Clark’s obituary page at  www.spilsburymortuary.com