Willard Neal Wyatt

1938 - 2023

Willard Neal Wyatt

Mar. 8, 1938 - Sept. 21, 2023

Willard Neal Wyatt passed away on September 21, 2023, 5 weeks after his dear wife, Kenna.

Neal was the youngest (and favorite) of five children born to Irvin and Isabell Wyatt. He was born March 8, 1938. He grew up on a farm in the Pella area where he helped with milking cows and farming most of his younger years. His dad taught him to work hard but when the chores were finished - he knew how to play! One of the highlights of growing up on the farm was meeting up with his friends in the evenings to go swimming in the canal.

Neal attended school at Southwest Elementary, Burley Jr. High and he graduated from Burley High School in 1956. In high school, Neal played football, basketball and participated in track. These experiences would serve him well as he went on to coach those same sports for Oakley High School for 39 years.

After high school, Neal attended Utah State University where he majored in History and minored in Math. Not long after he graduated from college, he was "selected" to serve in the Army. He did his basic training at Fort Ord but was then assigned to Fort Hauchau, where he worked as a GED teacher and then as a historian in the base museum.

He started teaching at Oakley High School in the spring of 1964. He met the love of his life, Kenna Anderson, on a blind date and they were married on June 24, 1965. They were the proud parents of three pretty amazing daughters - Alison, Candace and Robyn.

Neal continued to teach and coach at Oakley High School and impacted thousands of lives. As a coach, he led his team to two state basketball championships, his football team to one state championship, and coached many athletes to first place medals at the state track meets. He received many coaching awards including several from IHSAA. When he wasn't coaching, during the summers, he farmed with his dad and helped his brother, Grant, on his farm.

Neal was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. He served in a variety of callings - Elders Quorum President, ward clerk, high priest group leadership, Oakley Stake High Council and ordinance worker in the Twin Falls Temple.

He willingly gave off his time to help anyone who might be in need. He was a diligent home teacher, a willing math tutor, a Christmas candy deliverer and a devoted coach to any athlete who sought his help (even if you were on an opposing team). Neal would disappear every day and Kenna would worry about where he had gone but it turned out that he was silently checking on multiple people in his neighborhood who he thought might need his help.

He love to read, draw house plans or spend time outside enjoying nature - going on long walks, backpacking trips, or just mowing the lawn.

Neal was often referred to as a gentle giant. He made friends wherever he went. He was kind to everyone he knew and had a special way of making sure you knew that you were loved and valued in his quiet, unassuming way.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kenna Anderson Wyatt as well as, his parents, Irvin Syme Wyatt and Isabell Maughan Wyatt and two of his older brothers, Dale and Grant Wyatt.

He is survived by his daughters, Alison (Scott) Rydalch of Idaho Falls, Candace (Tracy) King of Burley and Robyn Jones of Worland, WY; his sister Margaret (Marvin) Miller and brother Lynn (Roseann) Wyatt, 17 grandchildren: Jenna, Creighton, Cambree, Jared, Sakoya, Jordan, Kennadee, Kayson, Saige, Janeal, Kaia, Justin, Denali, Kestle, Derringer, Wynter and Wyatt and his seven great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 2, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Pella 2nd Ward, located at 160 West 400 South, of Burley. Burial will followed in the Pella Cemetery. Family and friends were received from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 1, 2023 at the Pella 2nd Ward building located at 160 West 400 South of Burley, and at the church on Monday, from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at morrisonfuneralhome.net Services are under the direction of Morrison Funeral Home, 188 South Hwy 24 in Rupert.