Donald Edward McCandless

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HUNTINGTON/OREM-Donald Edward McCandless died Oct. 28, 2012 in Provo, Utah as the result of kidney cancer-induced strokes. Don was born June 29, 1959 in Price, Utah to William Edward and Carolyn Tew McCandless. He grew up in Huntington, playing in ditches, welding, farming, roaming the San Rafael desert and being a good kid with a little rascal thrown in. He served an LDS mission to Hawaii from 1978-80. He married Karen Stone on July 26, 1985 in the Jordan River LDS Temple and they were blessed with two daughters. Don would joke they were the only ones brave enough to have him and Karen as parents. Don graduated from BYU with a BS degree in Political Science and a JD degree and practiced law in Utah Valley.
Don was a member of the LDS church, loving his service with the youth, whether they were his BYU singles ward students or the young men. He had a strong testimony of the Savior and taught his children well. He constantly served others, whether they were shocked Chinese tourists who had just hit a deer in Huntington Canyon to those affiliated with Habitat for Humanity.
Don loved fishing, camping, shooting, the blues, cooking, astronomy, collecting rocks and fossils, and playing his guitar. He played his guitar every day, singing and making up crazy lyrics. Education was very important to him. Don loved learning and could remember everything. Most of all he loved his girls. He loved spending time with them, whether it was a trip to the store, sitting around a campfire or attending a concert or swim meet.
Don fixed things, wanting his family, friends and possessions to be working at their best. Many of us have something broken in our lives, whether it is a physical object, our relationship with the Savior, a family member, or our own selves. In honor of Don, fix something that is broken in your life, no matter how hard it may be.
Survivors include his wife, Karen, daughters Jamie (David) Pearson and Kelley, all of Orem. Parents William and Carolyn McCandless, brothers Wayne (Juanita), Mike (Helen), sister Sharon (Andy) Pollaehne, all of Huntington, Utah. He is also survived by cousins, nieces and nephews and in-laws.
Services were held Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 at the Timpview Stake Center, 1050 N. 600 W. Orem at 1 p.m. Visitation was from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the church and on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 6-8 p.m. at Sundberg Olpin Mortuary, 495 S. State Orem. In lieu of flowers, a “Don McCandless BYU Scholarship” account has been established. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo bank. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SundbergOlpinMortuary.com.