Lance Dunford Haddock, 73, died peacefully in his home of lung cancer with his family by his side, listening to his favorite songs from his master playlist and drinking his favorite whiskey sours. The song “Summer of 69” was playing as he took his last breath; then, incredibly, his favorite song from his favorite movie “Never Ending Story” began. We were all sure he played this song. And in Lance’s words, “Let’s get this show on the streets!”
Lance lived a Tom Sawyer life as a boy in Provo, Utah. He was the oldest with two younger sisters, Jan and Gayle. He and his best “dog” friend, Sally, would spend every waking hour playing with the neighborhood boys. They had adventures exploring the Provo River, the brickworks, and hopping on the Heber Creeper to explore areas outside the city. He left the house on a Friday afternoon after school and was away by Sunday evening fishing, playing baseball, swimming, and other, sometimes malicious but harmless, activities. As an adult, he continued to enjoy exciting adventures such as bungee jumping, hot air balloon rides, and skydiving. He loved gardening, which he was very proud of in his garden; Golf, lighthouses, baseball, collecting model airplanes, Budweiser pitchers and coins. He loved attending the Radials N ‘Rivers Air Show in Lewiston, Idaho, every year. He flew several World War I aircraft, his favorite aircraft being the Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber.
Lance worked as a retail manager for over 50 years. He began his career with Mr. Skaggs in Provo, Utah, where he held his first position in the soda fountain store. Over the years he climbed the ladder and spent most of his career running retail pharmacies. When he retired in 2017, he was working for Rite-Aid. Over the course of his career, he received a leadership award and was known for bringing order to failing and chaotic businesses.
Lance married and later divorced, Deanne Davies in 1967, and they had 1 daughter, Jodi. In 1972 he married Vicki Loveless and they had 4 daughters, Kerry, Jillyn, Jennifer and Kim. They divorced in 1999 but remained friends until his death. In 2010 he married the “love of his life”, Wendy Sue Haws, and welcomed their 5 children Rebekah, Hatley, Alex, Kallie and Jonah with open arms.
Lance loved his family and traveled to see his grandchildren’s births, sporting events, graduations, and weddings. He is survived by his wife, Wendy; Children: Jodi Kittinger, Kerry (Ryan) Light, Jillyn (Gary) Peters, Jennifer Haddock, Kim (Bryan) Hatch, Rebekah (Seth) Minnis, Hatley (Adam Wicks) Laughridge, Alex (Dalina Ramirez) Laughridge, Kallie (Devon) Flores and Jonah (Taylor Book) Hunt. His grandchildren: Hailey and Ryan Kittinger, Andrew (McKenna) and Zach (Erica Edens) Light, Taylor Willcuts, Tyler, Gracie, Charley and Piper Peters, Bryce and Emily Haddock, Whitnee Hatch, Tirzah, Jeremiah, Levi, Silas, Eleanor and Agatha Minnis, Zeena Flores and Laura Hunt. He has 1 great granddaughter, Ellery Willcuts. He is also survived by his sisters Jan Auch and Gayle Lewis. Lance was often heard saying, surrounded by his busy family, “I did this!”
Lance always had a tender heart for his furry friends. He’s had many dogs over the years with fond memories of everyone: Sally, Nixie, Sydnee, Lady, Maggie and Coltie. Sydnee, who died in 2014, always had a very special place in his heart. Lance rescued Sydnee from an abusive situation as a puppy. He always said: “And Sydnee saved me right away.”
In death he is preceded by his parents Logan “Rusty” Dunford Haddock and Betty Jean (Curtis) Haddock and his granddaughter Kaylee Hatch.
A “Celebration of Lances Life” will take place on Saturday, November 6, 2021, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, with a light lunch and time for a visit with family and friends. The “celebration” begins at 12:00 noon. The event will be held at the White Willow Reception Center, 342 North 500 West, Provo, Utah. Instead of flowers, Lance asked for donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital on her website www.stjude.org. Condolences are available to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.
Published by Legacy on October 16, 2021.
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