Leland Ogden Sheets

Leland Ogden Sheets, age 91, passed away surrounded by his family on August 1, 2025, in Washington, Utah. Lee was born in Sugarhouse, Utah on May 7, 1934, to Leland B. and Ina O. Sheets.

Lee spent summers during his early years in Brighton, Utah helping his parents run the town store and post office. When Lee was about 10 years old, he made spending money by rowing fishermen across Silver Lake, even though he didn't know how to swim.

Lee attended Maeser Elementary and Holladay grade schools, Provo High School, and graduated as co-valedictorian from Payson High School in 1952.

After completing 2 years at Brigham Young University, without a clear major or definite schooling plans, he was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His call came through miraculous circumstances during ongoing military drafts. He served in the Brazilian Mission from 1954 to 1957, the only one at the time.

Following his mission, Lee joined the Air Force Reserves and returned to BYU. In 1959, he graduated with a BA degree in Zoology and a certificate in secondary education. He taught biology at Springville High School the following year. Because science teachers were classified as having "critical skills" he was allowed to teach one year before beginning his reservist service. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Lee met Lois "by accident" on a double-date while she was working at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon during the summer of 1959.

After deciding he liked teaching biology, but not teaching teenagers, Lee decided to pursue other career options. He was accepted at Washington State University Veterinary School and began attending in 1960.

Prior to moving away for veterinary school, Lee pinned Lois with his Brazilian mission pin during the Payson Onion Days at Salem Pond. As Lois had not yet graduated from BYU she remained in Provo while Lee completed his freshman year at Washington State.

Lee and Lois were married in the Manti Utah LDS temple on June 9, 1961, and moved to Pullman, Washington three days later. Lee said Lois was his "brave and trusting sweetheart-graduation, wedding, new town, and new job all in a very short time."

Lee described vet school as "rigorous" and worked hard to get good marks in school and provide for his family. To make ends meet, he worked the night shift on weekends as a janitor in the student union building and built chicken coops for the microbiology department.

Lee graduated from Washington State University in 1964 and moved with Lois to Novato, California to join a veterinary practice. While in Novato, Lee earned his private pilot's license. He learned to fly in a Cessna 182 Skylane four-seater, registration number N2014X.

Lee and Lois moved from Novato to Watsonville, California in July of 1967. They took a risk and bought a veterinary practice by scraping together $5,000, part of which came from 3-year-old Annie and 1-year-old Roger's piggy banks. While setting up the clinic the phone rang with the first patient, an unfortunate chihuahua that jumped off a kitchen table and broke both front legs. Lee proceeded to see 30 patients on the first day the clinic opened, and the business only increased from there.

In 1972 Lee and Lois bought a ranch outside of Watsonville. The property had no water source, so he drilled his own well and planted 2,500 semi-dwarf McIntosh apple trees "for fun." Lee served as early morning seminary teacher to the youth of the ward and Elders Quorum President and was elected to the Pajaro Valley Unified School District school board. While in Watsonville, Lee and Lois added Nola, Karen, Emily, and Jana to their family.

Lee and Lois moved their family to St George, Utah in 1978. He built a veterinary practice that served Washington County and far beyond. While running a thriving business and raising a busy family Lee found time to adventure whenever and wherever he could. He enjoyed hiking the Zion Narrows, hunting, playing tennis, water skiing at Lake Powell, camping, mountain biking, snow skiing at Brian Head, and risking his life as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts. Running the Virgin River, when the water was high enough, was one of Lee's most enjoyable and dangerous activities. Apparently, he had more faith in the Lord than in his foolhardy buddies for his safety. Lee once reminisced "little did we know that when we offered a prayer there on the beach before we left (to run the river), that the Lord had His work cut out to save us from ourselves." Lee also served in many church callings including ward clerk, counselor in the bishopric, and stake high council.

Lee sold the St. George veterinary practice in 1999 to allow him to enjoy more time with his family, pursue an interest in real estate, and travel. He avoided being mugged in Rio de Janeiro by five Brazilian teenagers by following the Lord's prompting to "back these guys into the street" to run them off. He returned home from a trip to the Holy Land with a unique souvenir that we are sure he risked his life obtaining. While touring China, he continually peppered the local guides with political questions. He was always up for an adventure and had many good friends to help him with that. He once remarked upon returning from an ill-fated trip with friends, "that we made it as far as we did, with only inconveniences and no catastrophes, told me that the Lord was blessing us. What a relief that no one was killed or seriously hurt."

Lee was a great adventurer, inventor, do-it-yourselfer, hard worker, successful businessman, wise investor, and talented veterinarian. Above all, he was a devoted husband and father whose love for his family knew no bounds. He lived his faith with sincerity, held a deep love for Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, and followed the gospel in every aspect of his life

In a letter written years ago to his family, Lee expressed, "I love you all dearly and desire that we may all be a 'Family Forever' here on earth and beyond."

Lee is preceded in death by his lifelong sweetheart Lois (1938-2024), his parents Ina O. and Leland B. Sheets, and his brother Robert Sheets. He is survived by his children: Annie (Ron) Mervis (Salt Lake City, UT), Roger (Vivian) Sheets (St. George, UT), Nola (Brent) Peacock (Jackson, WY), Karen (David) Ipson (St. George, UT), Emily (Traver) Maxwell (Aurora, CO), and Jana (Adam) Pace (Hurricane, UT); sister: Kathryn Schramm (Highland, UT); 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and dear friends who were like family to him

The family would like to thank the staff at Ovation Sienna Hills and Summit Home Health & Hospice for their wonderful care and support.

A viewing will be held on Thursday August 14, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Boulevard, St. George, Utah.

Funeral services will be held on Friday August 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with a viewing prior from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., at the Hurricane Heritage Chapel, 1178 South 700 West, Hurricane, Utah.

Graveside services will be held in Fountain Green, Utah on Friday August 15 at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Dr. Lee ('64 DVM) and Lois Sheets Vet Student Family Award scholarship fund at Washington State University (on-line at www.foundation.wsu.edu/give and search for Dr. Lee Sheets, or mail to WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, P. O. Box 647010, Pullman, WA 99164) or charity of your choice. Please take a walk or hike and enjoy the great outdoors.

Leland Sheets Funeral Service Program

Those unable to attend are invited to view the services at the following link: Livestream

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