Lawrence “Louie” Ralph Worden was born March 31, 1936 to Ralph and Edith Worden at his grandmother’s home in Pima, AZ.
He attended school in Safford and graduated in 1953. He also took a few classes at Eastern Arizona College. In his younger years, Louie worked alongside his father doing carpentry work as well as auto mechanics. He later served in the Arizona National Guard for 9 years.
While working for a car dealership in Safford in 1971 he married Betty Hill at the Safford Woman’s Club and became a father to Betty’s young son, Troy Wells. The couple was sealed for time and all eternity 2 years later in the Mesa Arizona Temple. In 1973, Louie took a job at Kennecott Copper Mine in Hayden, AZ. They lived a short distance away in Kearney when they were blessed with a daughter, Melanie Worden in 1977. The family remained there until his retirement in the late 1990’s.
After his retirement, Louie worked part time at the Courier, delivering papers and helping Betty out in the Circulation Department. Louie enjoyed his retirement by being able to spend more time working on Ham radios, genealogy, computers and camping and fishing with his wife. He was a lifelong member of the LDS church and held many callings such as ward clerk and ward communications specialist. In the past couple of years, Louie and Betty had been serving in Kimball 4th Branch (the nursing home branch).
Louie went home to his Heavenly Father on January 12, 2017 with his wife and children at his side.
He is survived by his loving wife, Betty, son Troy (Tracy Hammett) Wells, daughter Melanie Worden (Russell) Barney, 3 grandsons; Kyle Wells, Jesse Barney and Travis Stephenson, 3 granddaughters; Destiny Best McCamy, Devanie Rodriguez and Marlee Barney, 2 great-grandsons; Zayde and Jesse II, sister Janet Gaynor of Tucson and brother Bill (Kris) Worden of St. George, UT.
Services will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Safford Stake Center beginning with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be in the Pima Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of McDougal’s Caldwell Funeral Chapel & Gila Valley Crematory. Online condolences may be extended at www.caldwellfuneralchapel.com.
