Obituary of David Lester Carden

David Lester Carden David Lester Carden passed from this world into the next at St. Peter Hospital on Thursday, February 16, 2012, after a seven-month battle with Leukemia. He had a quiet, sure peace that he was going to Heaven, and he was closely surrounded by his family and friends, and the wife who adored him, as he made the transition. David is survived by his wife, Connie Lynn Carden; his son, Shawn David Carden; his brothers, Byron James and Jeffrey Paul Carden; and his half sister, Kari Brown. He also leaves behind several step brothers and sisters, including Dave, Kathy, Cheri, Larry, and Kim Brown; and a multitude of cousins, aunts, and uncles who mostly reside near Olympia. Growing up, the three boys were well-known as the “Carden Boys.” Sweet sister Kari came along much later after his mom remarried to Dave Brown. Born at the Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska, to Don Wallace and Jean Frances (Williams) Carden, he moved with his family to Olympia when he was just a toddler. Growing up living near his cousins and other extended family, David was never at a loss for companionship, and he and his friends loved to camp out all summer long in one of their neighbor’s backyard. David attended Roosevelt Elementary, Washington Middle School, and graduated from Olympia High School in 1973. As a teenager, he worked as a dishwasher for the Oyster House, where he saw Mick Jagger from the Monkeys. He also went to Palm Springs each summer to work at his Uncle Jim’s hotel. In his twenties, he moved to Reno, Nevada and worked at Harrah’s in the Keno department. Upon his return to Olympia, he became a Christian while watching the 700 Club, and began attending Evergreen Christian Center where he met and married Roberta (Schetzel) Swan and became her six-year-old daughter, Julie’s, step father. Together they owned and operated Adene’s Beauty School, and David also worked for Capital Courier, Olympic Flower Market, and House of Roses throughout the years. David and Roberta’s love brought into being Shawn David, their pride and joy, and David proved to be an excellent father and continued to be so until the end. He loved playing sports with Shawn, starting him on basketball at the age of three, and when Shawn was a teenager, they played together on ECC’s home team. He was always active in Shawn’s life and never missed an event he was in. He was always there for him. After 16 years together, David and Roberta went their separate ways. However, they have continued to remain good friends. Two years later, David met Connie (Holbrook) Root at the Church of Living Water. She was attracted to him by his good looks, his simple faith in God, and his compassion for people. They fell madly in love and would have grown old together but for his untimely illness. They lived for a time in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, where David tended the London Bridge Golf Course, then in Laughlin, Nevada where he was a boat valet. Then one day while watching a program about the Dream Center, he was deeply touched and they moved to Los Angeles to be a part of the organization, which takes in and rehabilitates street people, criminals, prostitutes, and drug addicts. During his six years there, David worked on the food truck, led tours, was in charge of the Katrina Hurricane victims, short stay teams, and never missed a Saturday Adopt-A-Block. He had a passion for helping people who were hurt, and was always an encouragement to everyone around him. He was loved and admired by all as he never judged anyone, but gently loved them to the Lord. As Hollywood was nearby, David began working as a background actor on TV and in movies, and he loved to talk to celebrities about the Lord. He went to a multitude of movie premiers and often came into contact with some of the biggest stars on screen. In 2010, David suddenly developed a desire to go to the Holy Land. He got his passport in order and joined Matt and Laurie Crouch, and Joel and Victoria Osteen, on a ten-day trip to Jerusalem. He, appropriately, stayed at King David’s hotel. He returned, inspired to have walked on the same terrain that his blessed Jesus had walked. In 2011, the bone marrow disease he’d had for 18 years transferred into Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In January of 2012, knowing his time was short, his brothers and sister flew into Burbank to pack him and Connie up and to bring them back to Olympia. His much desired wish to have his whole family see the Dream Center was realized at that time, and while they were there, to his sibling’s amazement, he was brought up onto the stage to be honored by Pastor Matthew Barnett. It was a very emotional time for them all. Upon returning to Olympia, he only lived for three more weeks, but he was constantly surrounded by his friends and the family he so loved, including his son, Shawn, who flew in from Wisconsin to be with him during that time. During the last week of his illness, he was hospitalized, and his room was always filled, with standing room only. He never lost his sense of humor or his love for people, and his visitors often left feeling uplifted. David loved music and going to concerts, and every Sunday morning before church, he listened to the Beatle’s special two-hour program, and proclaimed them as his favorite group. He had an enthusiasm for life that was contagious, and a childlike faith that accepted God’s blessings and led to a multitude of answered prayers. David will be sorely missed by those he left behind. Memorial donations can be made to the Dream Center: www.dreamcenter.org. Please leave memories of David or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.