David Ray Dillard

David Ray Dillard, 73, passed away peacefully at his home in St. George, UT on October 1, 2026 surrounded by his family. He valiantly fought cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer of the liver, which he was diagnosed with in 2025. He was born on October 17, 1952 in South Gate, CA to Bill and LaRae Dillard. On July 6, 1985 he married Denise at Rolling Hills Covenant Church in southern California. At the time of his death, they had been married 41 wonderful years. His world revolved around his wife and their two children, Darren and Deanna.

Growing up Dave had a wide variety of jobs from paper delivery boy to carnival ride operator to gas station attendant. In adulthood Dave completed apprentice programs for the Carpenter Union and Millwright Union. He would eventually go on to have an impressive 40-year career as a construction superintendent and project manager primarily overseeing large scale projects like hospitals and jails.

Dave loved sports. He played little league baseball as a kid, making the All-Stars team multiple years, and then umpired games as an adult. He excelled at tennis while on the Torrance High (class of 1970) varsity tennis team. In retirement he joined a senior tennis league that kept him active. He loved water sports including water skiing, barefoot water skiing, and wake boarding. He wake boarded just two months before he passed! Snow skiing was another passion. He spent many winters hitting the slopes alongside his family.

He is survived by his wife Denise, son Darren (daughter-in-law Brigette), daughter Deanna (son-in-law Sam), granddaughters Quinn and Callie, brother Dale, and sister-in-law Ann Schultz (brother-in-law Bob). He was preceded in death by his father Bill, mother LaRae, father-in-law Kenneth Davis, and mother-in-law Colleen Davis.

Dave will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, family member, neighbor, and friend.

A graveside service will be held Friday, October 9, 2026 at 1:00pm at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, under the direction of McMillan Mortuary.