Andrea Steele Leavitt

Andrea Lee Steele was born to Thomas and Nathel Lund Steele on Oct 2, 1951. Her brother, Steve was 11 and her sister Sharon was 9. As an anticipated baby after a gap of 9 years, she was very welcome and somewhat spoiled. She was audacious and advanced as a toddler. The family thought everything she did was stellar. This continued until her sister Deborah was born two and a half years later.
Reared on a small farm in the Lehi district of Mesa, Arizona, she grew up in a protected and peaceful time. She attended Lehi Elementary School, Carson Jr High and Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona. She sang in the Concert Choir in High School. When she continued her education at BYU, she majored in German and Music, graduating in 1974. During her college years she was able to have a semester abroad in Salzburg, Austria. During that time she also explored Europe and traveled to Israel.
She worked part time as an information operator for Bell Telephone while in school. Her first full time work was for the Best Western Hotel chain. Computers were a new phenomenon then, and she was chosen to be trained in this expanding field by the Best Western organization. She loved learning about computers and their possibilities. She had a setback when she learned she had Keratoconus and had to have corneal transplants. The transplants were successful so she could move on in her life. She also enjoyed being on stage and performing. Her next job was related to all these elements. She began working for the Walt Disney Corp writing new programs. She had also purchased a Condo in Mesa, but she sold it and moved to Burbank, Ca. She enjoyed cartooning drawing, cooking, writing stories and music, playing her guitar and singing. She also contributed as a family history worker.
She had just decided she would be a single career woman when she met Joe Leavitt. He was also from Mesa, Az. And was living in California working as a clerk and a part time actor. They were married Nov 7, 1992, in the Mesa Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They returned to California to live. They were active in their church as teachers and musical performers. Andrea also worked in Family History. Joe began to work as Santa Claus and found that he loved that role. They helped produce several So. Calif musical productions and concerts. Andrea began to accompany Joe to his Santa engagements as Mrs. Claus. They a welcomed Andrea's sister, Debbie into their home, along with her two children, Alys and Chris. They were busy in the church community there.
In their ever changing and challenging world, they experienced some hard times and had to reevaluate their opportunities. Andrea moved to Utah first and found work. Joe joined her in Pleasant Grove. Andrea began to experience some health issues and retired from working. Joe took over as the main bread winner. They were able to purchase a Condo in Provo that was a show piece for their furnishings, music, art, books and collections. Then Joe became seriously ill and was hospitalized with severe lymphedema and heart failure. He entered a rehab facility to recover, He immediately began to work hard to regain his health. Andrea moved in with her sister Sharon. They had to sell their condo and many of their possessions. Andrea and Joe visited each other, buoyed with the plan of getting back into a place of their own. It was hard
but they were hopeful. Suddenly in February 2023, Joe unexpectedly died. It was a shock from which Andrea never fully recovered. She enjoyed the family atmosphere, care, and memories in the Tomlinson home, but she missed Joe and longed to be with him again.
She was under hospice care about four weeks when she passed peacefully on Sept 11, 2023. She will be loved, missed and remembered for her creativity, humor, testimony, company and her unflagging support for Joe.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 11:00 am, at the Olpin Family Mortuary Chapel, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove, Utah. Family and friends may attend a viewing to be held from 9:30 – 10:45 am prior to the services. Graveside services will be at 12:30 pm in the Lindon City Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at olpinmortuary.com.