7 May 1937 – 27 Apr 2021
Wife of Charles Howard “Dick” Cardon
Jackie Lee Cardon was born in Los Angeles, California, on May 7, 1937; and her parents – Frances Lee and George V – named her Jacquelyn Lee Kozak. When she was a year and a half old, she received a gift from heaven, a baby sister named Patricia Lou. The two girls – Jackie and Patti – were tried and true friends all their lives to this day when they are now in their 80’s.
When Jackie was 5 years old, her family moved to Youngstown, Ohio, to be near the extended family during World War II years. Nine years later, Jackie’s family moved back to California and settled in the brand-new city of Lakewood. Jackie worked at May company in the Mall during her teen years and later at the California School Board. In high school she was a happy member of the Bruinettes, a girls’ drill team that traveled with the football team all around the state of California and danced to the music of the Woodrow Wilson high school band.
At the age of 18, a life-changing experience happened. Jackie was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints … and that has made all the difference! Life as a Latter-day saint gave her sacred goals to aim for. She attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, served as a sister-missionary in the California Mission, met the love of her life and married Charles “Dick” Cardon in the Los Angeles Temple, and became the mother of 7 handsome sons – David, Robert, George, Bryan, Jeffrey, Craig, and Jason – and 4 beautiful daughters – Ann, Caryn, Bonnie, and Mary Beth. At a young age Jackie was impressed by the original movie “Cheaper by the Dozen” and she dreamed of having 12 children someday.
It took 20 years for Jackie and Dick to have 11 children, but only 5 years to receive 11 grandchildren (grandies). Their grandchildren now number 69 and their “greats” now number 46, soon to be 51.
During their 50’s Jackie’s husband was called by President Gordon B. Hinckley to serve as the mission president of the El Salvador [San Salvador] East Mission and Jackie was called to be his companion for 3 years – 1996-1999. In 2002, they were called to serve again in the Guatemala Mission to begin the Perpetual education fund in Central America. That mission ended abruptly when an accident occurred and injured Dick’s left eye. They came home to get medical help for Dick’s eye and returned to finish that CES mission in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the Institute of Religion. In 2006-2008, Dick was called to serve as a counselor to the Paraguay Temple President, George. Jackie served as an assistant to the Temple Matron. Their only stateside mission, 2011-2013, was in San Jose, California, where they served in all the Spanish Wards and branches, teaching family history and taking groups to the Oakland temple to do baptisms for their ancestors. Finally, they fulfilled a “mini mission” in the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple, 2014, under the first temple President Israel Perez, who is a close friend. We lived on the Temple grounds and served every day in the Temple. A very spiritual way to complete their mission days.
Jackie’s grateful, happy spirit departed her mortal body during her sleep on April 27, 2021. A viewing for family and friends will be held at the Utah Valley Mortuary on Friday, May 7, 2021 located at 1966 West 700 North, Lindon, UT 84042 starting at 10:00 am and ending at 12:00 noon. A short graveside service will then be held at the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery located at 500 North 100 West, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062 starting around 12:30 pm.
Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary
-Published online at https://www.utahvalleyfuneral.com/obituaries/Jacquelyn-Cardon/#!/Obituary