William Joseph Cavanaugh

Will was born February 6, 1974 in Midland, Michigan, the son of Dennis & Linda Cavanaugh. By the time Will was two, the family had settled in Monmouth, IL, where his father, his grandfather, and his uncle owned & operated a car dealership, Cavanaugh's Motors.

Growing up as a child on the Mississippi, the family spent a lot of time on the water. Boating and water skiing were a lifelong passion for Will.

In middle school, his parents enrolled Will in Martial Arts classes where he absolutely thrived. While neither Judo or Aikido are inherintly religions, they both have a significant spiritual and philosophical component. They promote values like respect, sincerity, and self control. They aim to unify mind, body, and spirit. Will believed in these values and he tried to practice them in his daily life.

After high school, he graduated from Hamilton Technical College with honors. After graduating, Will decided to head west. First to Salt Lake City, UT, before settling into Durango, CO to be closer to family. He was the General Manager of the Tile & Carpet store, which is a family owned business. Our wonderful staff, Amber, Keenan, and Joanna will miss him terribly, as we all will.

Will enjoyed spending time with his partner, Diana and their dog, Radar. He also had a passion for music and was an avid collector of vinyl records. He did some DJ work in his spare time. Diana & Will also spent time on Lake Nighthorse which he loved. He had a quick wit and was a top notch Monty Python mimic. Will touched so many lives, and we are all blessed for having known him and loved him.

Will is survived by his partner, Diana Garza of Durango, CO, father & stepmother Denny & Kati Cavanaugh of Durango, CO, mother and stepfather Linda & Dave Miller of Macomb, IL, sister Christy Cavanaugh Sparks of Bloomington, IN, sister Sara Cavanaugh Neylan of Dallas, TX stepsister Kendra Collins of Baltimore, MD, stepbrother Brittan Collins of Durango, CO, and other extended family and friends. We are all heartbroken by his passing.

Services will be held at Hood Mortuary Chapel on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.