11 Nov 1919 – 27 Apr 2009
Wife of Eugene Hurst Cardon
Nov. 11, 1919-April 27, 2009
Ethel Louise Cardon, 89, of Farmington, New Mexico, went home to her Heavenly Father on Monday morning, April 27, 2009, in her daughter’s home. She was born to Wilford and Ida Hunt Wheeler in her grandmother Elsie Schmutz Hunt’s home in Waterflow.
Ethel’s parents owned the Hogback Trading Post where she was raised. She enjoyed her family, riding her favorite pony to school in Kirtland and racing others home. She graduated from Kirtland High School.
Ethel will be remembered for her beautiful voice. She sang at dances and weddings. She taught herself to play the piano and organ by ear. She would hear a song and practice until she could play it. She also was a wonderful cook and did a lot of canning.
Ether married Tommy Whitcomb Neff on March 31, 1940. They lived in Farmington, where their first daughter, Nedra Alice, was born. They moved to Henderson, Nev., during World War II and had their second daughter, Ethel Nadine. They enjoyed dancing and making friends and would go out to dance once a month.
They returned to Farmington and lived on the Neff Ranch on the La Plata and had their third daughter, Patricia Ida. Tommy had a terrible tractor accident while working on a ditch bank and was killed. Ethel could not run the ranch alone, so she moved back to Farmington and lived with Tommy’s parents, Alfred and Alice Neff.
Ethel married Eugene Cardon in 1947, and they had one son together, Jerry Eugene. They also loved to dance and taught their children how.
Ethel was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and enjoyed teaching and helping the youth and singing.
After the girls left home, Ethel attended college to become a teacher. She taught on the Reservation. She loved the little Navajo children and lived right close to the school during the week and drove home for the weekends.
She was preceded in death by her husbands; son, Jerry; sister, Rose; and in-laws, Ken Washburn and Mary Wheeler.
She is survived by her daughters, Nedra (Jed) Shumway of Mesa, Ariz., Ethel Nadine (Allen) Mead of La Plata and Patsy (Glenn) Mead of Farmington. She has 13 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving Ethel is her brother, Lloyd Wheeler of Hogback; sister Aleta (Clyde) Ashcroft; sister-in-law, Anna Mae (Udell) Cardon of Albuquerque; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation was from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home.
Services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4400 College Blvd., in Farmington, New Mexico, with Bishop Chris James conducting.
Interment followed at Memory Gardens, 6917 E. Main St., in Farmington, New Mexico.
Those wishing to send condolences may do so at www.danielsfuneral.com.
Arrangements were entrusted to Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St., in Farmington; (505) 325-8688.