Byron LeRoy Willis St. George, UT - Byron LeRoy Willis, 77, passed away into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father on May 12, 2010, after a valiant three year battle with cancer, during which we saw his courage and spiritual strength as never before. LeRoy was born September 21, 1932 to Byron LeRoy Willis, Sr. and Lurana Eagar Willis in Phoenix, Arizona. Cancer took his father when LeRoy was eleven. His mother later married F. Ellis Nielsen and the family moved to Tucson where LeRoy attended high school and later graduated from the University of Arizona, also receiving a commission as a second lieutenant through the ROTC. As a young man he served a three-year mission in Samoa, which was one of the great joys of his life. His love for the Samoan people never left him, and he continued to speak their language throughout his life. He is still known by all as Uili, the Samoan version of Willis, by his Samoan friends and fellow missionaries. After a years training in the U.S. Air Force Communications-Electronics Officer School, he was assigned to a missile squadron at Tainan Air Base in Taiwan. His unit was on loan to the Nationalist Chinese Air Force where they became an integral part of the missile defense system during the threatened Communist Chinese invasion of Taiwan. He literally had his finger on the button that would launch missiles into mainland China. When the threat was over he was discharged in May, 1963, having attained the rank of captain. He had a successful career of thirty years with AT&T, Motorola and Mountain Bell Telephone, serving twenty-seven years as a civil engineer with the latter company. During this time he received his Masters Degree in Business from Arizona State University. Following his retirement, LeRoy began a second career as a financial advisor. He served on the Lincoln Hospital Financial Board, and volunteered for the American Cancer Society. He married Shirley Chapman in June of 1956, they were blessed with four wonderful children. Later they divorced. LeRoy married Colleen Marie Radcliff in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 9, 1985, adding three more children to his family. Colleen was his joy, and has remained with him throughout his many challenges. He loved his long membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions as an honorable Priesthood holder. LeRoy and Colleen served a senior couples mission in Riverside, CA in 2000 and 2001, where, once again, he ironically was able to serve the beloved Samoans who lived in that area. With Colleen by his side, he loved to travel and experience historical sites. He also loved to spend time with his family and friends playing bridge, golf, Mexican Train, and enjoying many movies. He was simply a fun person, bringing happiness to all he knew. He is survived by his loving wife, Colleen; their children: Cheryl Willis of Phoenix, Arizona, Lon (Ellen) Wills of Woods Cross, Utah, Stacy (Dan) Black of Naperville, Illinois, Byde (Melanie) Willis of Woods Cross, Utah, Mary Colleen (Dan) Martinez of Orem, Utah, Michael (Sharon) Radcliff of Herriman, Utah, and LeRoy (Peggy) Radcliff of Queen Creek, Arizona; his sister, Luana Clawson of Davis, California; step-sister, Ruth Skousen of Mesa, Arizona; twenty-one grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren, with two more arriving this year.. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A special thanks to Dr. Robert Lemon for his medical expertise and unending kindness and support. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in LeRoys name to the American Cancer Society, (800) 227-2345 or at www.cancer.org. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bloomington Hills LDS Second Ward Chapel, 750 Fort Pierce Drive, St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held Friday, May 14, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. St. George Blvd. No visitation will be held Saturday prior to services.