Willard Heatley Livingstone Jr

Willard "Wood" Heatley Livingstone Jr.

Willard Heatley Livingstone Jr., known affectionately to all who loved him as "Wood," passed away peacefully at his home in Palm Springs, California, on September 25, 2025, with his devoted husband, Wes, by his side. He was 84 years old.

Wood was born on April 8, 1941, in Oakland, California, the son of Willard Heatley Livingstone Sr. and Clara Chase Nixon Livingstone. He graduated from Alton Senior High School in 1959 and earned his degree from the University of Missouri in 1961.

A true entrepreneur and adventurer, Wood's professional life was as colorful and varied as his travels. Over his career, he owned and operated five successful businesses, including PettyMark, the Turtle Creek artificial flower company, Turtle Creek Travel, Jill's Hallmark, and the charming Welch House Inn.

Beyond his professional life, Wood was defined by his boundless passion for exploration and service. He circled the globe, traveling extensively through Europe and South America, including memorable visits to Valparaíso, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Brazil; and Uruguay. He also explored Africa, the Caribbean, and the remote Sechele Islands, including an unforgettable 30-day cruise.

Wood was a passionate volunteer, dedicating his time to assisting AIDS patients at the Cathedral of Hope in Dallas and serving for ten years at Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs. He was also a fiercely competitive and dedicated Bridge player.

Wood's legacy is carried on by his loving family. He is survived by his husband and life partner, Hubert Wesley Garlington ("Wes"), with whom he shared a life starting in 1989 and married on July 17, 2013. He is also survived by his former wife, Judith Susan Rawlins Livingstone Klutho ("Judy"), to whom he was married from 1961 until 1988; his two children, Anne Nixon Livingstone Kirsch and Christopher Sills Livingstone; and his four cherished grandchildren: Marc Anthony Kirsch Jr., Caroline Chase Kirsch, Victoria Anne Livingstone, and Blake Christopher Livingstone. He is survived by his siblings, Charles (Shotty) Rufus Livingstone and Clara Louise (Weezie) Livingstone Pultman.

Wood was preceded in death by his father, Willard Heatley Livingstone Sr.; his mother, Clara Chase Nixon Livingstone; and his brother, John Baron Rowan Livingstone.

Following cremation in Palm Springs, a private burial will occur later at the family's Nixon mausoleum in Nyack, New York.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Cancer Society in Wood's name.

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