May God bless you and your...
I worked under Laural from 1972-1975 at the Mesa Farm. He showed me so much about farming.
Timothy Buffalo
November 30, 2024 | Carpinteria, CA | Friend
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Laurel Durrant Leavitt
Mesa, Arizona
About
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Mesa, Arizona
Obituary
Send FlowersLaurel Durrant Leavitt, 74, died in his home March 8, 2007. Laurel was a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in many positions of leadership and patterned his life of service after the Savior, Jesus Christ. His greatest passion was working for over 20 years with the youth as a scoutmaster. He was born in Provo, UT and later lived in Bunkerville, NV and Homedale, ID. Laurel married his eternal companion, Joanna Dees, in 1955 and has lived in Mesa ever since. He was a veteran who served in the Army during the Korean conflict. Laurel worked for the University of Arizona Experimental Farm for 37 years as the farm foreman and manger, first in Mesa and later in Maricopa. He loved farming in Mesa and was often seen driving his tractors south on Extension to his in-city farm on Baseline where he grew hay, grain, and vegetables. His "claim to fame" was his home-grown tomatoes that he grew every summer for his family and friends. Laurel is preceded in death by his parents, Laurel Evan Leavitt and Melvina Durrant; brother, David; and sister, Nina L. Hyde. He is survived by a sister, Elaine Mitchell; and three brothers, Keith, D. Henry, and Leon. His wife, Joanna Dees Leavitt, will dearly miss him as will his six children: Laurel Ann (Eric) Strate, Linda (Stephen) Hartmann, Laurel Sterling (Sheleen Rogers), Wayne (Charlys Swift), Suzanne (Kevin (Shreeve, and Brent (Jenni Giles). Laurel was a grandfather to 21 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Viewings will be on Tuesday, March 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. and from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on March 14. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. Both funeral and viewings will be at the L.D.S. Maricopa Stake Center, 611 North Stewart. Bunker's Garden Chapel handled the arrangements. Sign the Guest Book at eastvalleytribune.com
This obituary was originally published in the East Valley Tribune.
Guest Book
looking forward to seeing him again
his 9th grandson Stance Clevenger.
Stance Clevenger
May 18, 2007 | Gilbert, AZ
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Dear Joanna and Family,
You are in our thoughts and we extend our sympathy to you at this time. We will always remember how you took us into your home. Laurel D was a great man in many ways, but nothing was bigger than his heart.
Love,
Shauna and Ron Roberts
Shauna Roberts
March 14, 2007 | Stewartville, MN
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Brother Leavitt was a missionary at Deseret Industries for many years. His love, dedication, service and example to the trainees and staff cannot be measured.
He loved and helped the downtrodden, and he was never too busy to listen to their problems and to counsel with them. He was generous with his time and money whenever there was a need. He studied with trainees to help them to get their driver's licenses, personally taking them out to practice driving in his vehicle. He took...
Elaine Beckstead
March 13, 2007 | Gilbert, AZ
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I was so sad to hear of Laurel D.'s death. He was a special cousin to me. I remember visiting the Homedale cousins when I was young. He was so fun, taking us on a wild ride in his jeep. We went across the state line into Oregon, just so that we could say that we had been there. We had some fun times at Dixie College, where he lived in the basement apartment below Merle Allen and me. I will miss getting one of his wonderful tomato plants, but will have no trouble remembering that he was a...
Nita Rae Hulet
March 13, 2007 | St. George, UT
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I know that my entire family is so grateful to have the honor of calling the Leavitt family our friends! I want to thank you for making all of us feel so special and truly loved! It's so clear that this family has touched many lives through their love, example, and guidance and I appreciate being able to stand among the masses of recipients. I especially loved Bro. Leavitt's infectious smile and hearty laugh! I loved when my sister Lori and I would be at the house singing, with Linda at the...
Shauna Bowen Dixon
March 12, 2007 | Gilbert, AZ
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Our family was blessed with the friendship of this wonderful man, Our parents used Bro. Laurel as an example of humility and honesty.His family has also touched the lives of our children.
THE MONTIERTH FAMILY MEL, LYLE AND JACK
March 12, 2007 | MESA, AZ
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Dear Joanna and family,
You certainly have my thoughts and prayers at this time. Your husband and father was a giant of a man!
With love your cousin,
Rex Peterson
March 12, 2007 | West Jordan, UT
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The loss of someone so close is difficult to bear. We share your grief.
Sincerely,
The Bustamante Family
Laura Bustamante
March 12, 2007 | Mesa
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