Raydene Willows

Raydene Willows passed away peacefully Friday, April 24, 2026, with her husband, John, by her side. She was 92 years old; born Dec. 8,1932, to Raymond and Alice Cannon in Reubens.

Raydene grew up in Reubens and then moved to Boise, at age 9 with her family, with a short stint in Wyoming and Walla Walla, and then back to Lewiston where she attended high school and met the love of her life, John M. Willows Jr. at a baseball game. John presented Raydene with an engagement ring upon graduation and, after John attended his first year of college at the University of Idaho, they were married Aug. 1, 1953, at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Lewiston; and Raydene then joined him in Moscow.

Following graduation, John took an engineering job with Edwards Air Force Base in California as a flight test engineer. John was called to active duty at Lackland Air Force Base for training in Texas where their son, Donald Raymond was born. John was then assigned to Lakenheath, England’s Air Force base. Raydene followed the next year when Don was a year old. Alice Ann was born while they were stationed in England.

Following John’s military service, they moved back to Lewiston and John took a job as an engineer with Potlatch Corp., and Raydene was a stay-at-home mom. They were transferred to Post Falls where they lived for six years and then to Deer Park, Wash., for two years, ultimately moving back to Clarkston in 1970 where Raydene lived until her passing.

Raydene was an active volunteer most notably serving as president for the Lewiston Jay-C-Ettes in 1962-63, a division of the Chamber of Commerce with a focus on civil projects. She also served as a regional officer for the state of Idaho. Raydene was very involved in the Clarkston and Washington State Junior Miss programs for many years. She was also an active volunteer at the church.

Raydene spent a lot of time with her children and grandchildren; family was her passion. Her favorite thing was to spend time with family at her happy place; Priest Lake, Idaho. John and Raydene purchased land near Elkins Resort in the late 60s where they spent many vacations. She loved to pick huckleberries and made excellent pies.

Raydene is survived by her loving husband of 72 years, John M. Willows Jr.; her daughter Alice Ann Hardin (Jeff); her son Don Willows (Rob); grandchildren, Erin Clovis (Jason), Adam Willows (Stevi), Allen Willows (LeeAnn), Nicole Lieder (Matt), Courtney Reed (Stan); great-grandchildren, Kyron Clovis, Korbin Clovis, Carter Willows, Halle Reed and Berkley Reed; nieces, Sherri Kumm (John); Cathy Wicks (Steve), Paige Willows (Pete); nephews, Brad Cannon (Linda), Dan Willows Jr. and a sister-in-law Barb Willows.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Raymond and Alice Cannon; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Russ and Marie Cannon and Lynn and Barb Cannon; her in-laws, Jack and Mavis Willows and her brother-in-law, Dan Willows.

Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 2, at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 731 Eighth St., Lewiston. Burial will immediately follow the service at Normal Hill Cemetery, in Lewiston, and then a reception back at the church.