Willis Burton

Willis Murdock Burton, born on November 22, 1937, in Stevensville, MT, lived a life filled with love, diligence, and the utmost devotion to his family and faith. Raised on the family farm in Montana, he shouldered many responsibilities from a young age, including herding cattle, maintaining and fixing farm equipment, and hiring out to neighboring farms to supplement the family income. After graduating from high school, Willis moved to take a job in Seattle, Washington. While in Seattle, he met the love of his life, Joanne Hill, whom he married on August 29, 1958. He cherished the life they built together, filled with laughter, resilience, and unconditional love.

Willis took great pride in his work as a bus driver for Metro Transit in Seattle, a position he held for over 40 years. His skill, care, and wisdom was recognized through several accolades, including Driver of the Year, the Safe Driver Award, and election to the committee responsible for judging driver safety and performance throughout the entire company. After his retirement in 2003, he and Joanne moved to Salem, Utah to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Willis had a number of hobbies, most of which involved being outdoors or working with tools. He was an expert mechanic and was known for being able to fix just about anything, including the family cars and his beloved John Deere tractors. He and his family enjoyed frequent camping and river-rafting trips together throughout the western United States.

Willis, a man of unwavering faith, served his community and church in various capacities throughout his life, including Seventy, Ward and Stake missionary, Genealogy specialist, and Primary teacher. However, his most cherished role was that of a Scout Master. Willis's life was a testament to his faith and belief in his Savior, Jesus Christ, and he was a guiding light for those who had the privilege of knowing him.

Willis is survived by his adoring wife Joanne, his children Scott (Cherie), Cinda (Craig) Morgan, Pamela (Bevan) Orme, Kelly (Joseph) Diaz, and Margaret (Scott) Jorgensen, and his brother Wayne Burton. He is preceded in death by his parents Vernon Burton and Margaret Berko, his sister Dale Daniels, and his grandson Bradley Burton.

The family invites you to join them in celebrating Willis' remarkable life. A viewing will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at Cherry Ridge Ward, 1129 South 250 West, Salem, Utah, at 9:30am MDT, followed by the funeral service at 11:00am MDT. Graveside services will be at Salem City Cemetery, 965 South 140 East, Salem, Utah, at 12:45pm MDT.

We encourage everyone who knew Willis to share their memories of him and upload photos to his memorial page. Even as we mourn his loss, let us remember Willis as he was—a man of strength, humor, and profound love for his family and his faith. His legacy will live on in the stories we share and the memories we keep.