Garth’s Brother, David Leavitt’s Obituary
DAVID’S OBITUARY
St. George, Utah – With heavy hearts we had to say goodbye to our husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle and friend. David Raphael Leavitt age 75 passed away suddenly on May 28, 2021, in St. George, Utah, joining his mother who passed just 16 days earlier. He was born on March 7, 1946, in St. George, Utah to Lee Raphael and Wilma Bowler Leavitt.
He was raised in St. George, Utah as a youth until age 14. His family then moved away to San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1964. After graduating from high school, the family moved back to St. George. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northwestern States from 1965 to 1967. He spent the rest of his life as a devoted member of the Church.
After his mission he attended Dixie State College. One day he was called out of class to be told his father had suddenly passed away. This changed the course of his life as he chose to take care of his mother and siblings instead of pursuing his desire of becoming a Seminary Teacher. He took over his dad’s previous maintenance and yard service at the Washington County Administration Building. David married his sweetheart, Marsha Rose McAllister, on April 12, 1968. He was drafted in October 1968 went to the Vietnam War in May of 1969 and served his country for a year and eight days.
After his service in Vietnam, he briefly drove a gas truck at Holt Oil for one year. After the short run with Holt Oil, he got back into the maintenance and yard services with his wife. Together they took care of the 3rd Ward Chapel, Dixie State Bank, and the Washington County Library. Later he started a business with his brother Steven known as Leavitt’s Building and Yard Maintenance. He continued in that work until he retired.
He loved tinkering in his yard, and he took great pride in keeping it maintained and beautiful! He loved to hunt with his boys and extended family. He loved watching the Jazz and the Dodgers play. Most of all he loved being behind the scenes of the camera at family gatherings where Marsha provided food, his children and grandchildren visited and laughed together. At these times his home was never quiet. There were always lots of people trying to hear and be heard. He was always close to his mother. He and Marsha, along with his siblings, took great care of her for much of her last few years until her last day!
FAMILY was most important to Dad!
He is survived by his loving wife, Marsha; sons: James (JaNae) Leavitt of Pheonix Arizona, Jason (Jackie) Leavitt and Justin Leavitt (Sommer Bowler) of St. George; daughters: Jennifer (Tucker) Jennings of Cedar City, and Jaclyn (Tad) Hunt of St. George; 21 grandchildren;1 great granddaughter; brothers: Garth (Peggi) Leavitt of St. George and Steven (Doris) Leavitt of Ivins; sister, Jane (Robert) Force of Sandy; sister’s-in-law: Lou (Gary) Colton of Roosevelt, Judy Hart of St. George; and brother-in-law, Russell (Nancy) McAllister of Washington, Utah.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Raphael and Wilma Leavitt; older sister, RaDonna; father and mother-in-law, Joseph Glen and Rose McAllister; brother-in-law, William “Bill” Hart; cousin, Earl Thompson; uncle, Bert Staheli; and aunt, Roma Staheli.
Dad we miss you!
A viewing will be held Friday, June 4, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd St. George, Utah.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., with a viewing prior from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Ridgeview Chapel, 750 North 1000 West, St. George, Utah.
Garth Leavitt’s Mother’s Obituary
WILMA BOWLER LEAVITT OBITUARY
St. George, Utah – Wilma Bowler Leavitt, age 93, passed away May 12, 2021 at the home of her son, David Leavitt, in St. George, Utah surrounded by her family. She was born August 15, 1927 in St. George, Utah to Richard “Dick” Bowler and Ella Jane Hunt.
When she was 2 years and 9 months old, on May 12, 1930, her mother passed away. After her father re-married, she and her younger sister Roma were raised by their grandparents, Henry and Maybell Hunt in Gunlock Utah.
She started her education at the one-room school in Veyo Utah but most of her education was in the two-room school in Gunlock where she graduated from the 8th grade. That completed her formal education.
She grew up next door to Lee Raphael Leavitt. She first noticed that he was paying attention to her when she was in the 8th grade. Their first date was rabbit hunting at Cactus Flat in the mountains north of Gunlock. They were married on January 17, 1942 at Raphael’s home in Gunlock. She was 14 and he was 17, so they had to wait to be sealed in the St. George LDS Temple on March 24, 1943.
They started married life herding goats in a sheep wagon in the Red Mountains south of Gunlock. Later they lived in a one-room cabin at Cactus Flat. They lived in the house next to the Gunlock chapel in 1945, and bought a home in St. George in 1949. In 1960 they rented the St. George house and moved to San Antonio, Texas. They returned to Gunlock in 1964, and lived with Raphael’s Mother until the renters were out and they could move back to their house in St. George. In 1977 she sold this house and bought another house in St. George, just one house away from Roma and Bert Staheli, her sister and brother-in-law, where she lived for the rest of her life.
Wilma helped Raphael when he managed the Big Hand Cafe in St. George from 1956 to 1960. After Raphael passed away in 1967, she worked as the bookkeeper for JC Penney in St. George for 19 years. She cleaned the Brigham Young and Jacob Hamblin homes for 7 years and helped clean several other buildings in St. George.
Wilma loved staying connected to her childhood friends in the “Gunlock Golden Girls.” She loved to watch sports on TV, and was a huge fan of the Dodgers, the Utah Jazz, and some other teams. She was very active in a Literary Arts Club for many years and put a lot of work into preparing the book reviews which she loved to give. Among other callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served as the Primary President in San Antonio and Young Women’s President in St. George. She had a beautiful voice and loved singing in church meetings when she was young.
Wilma loved spending time with family, especially her children and grandchildren, her dear sister and brother-in-law. Roma and Bert Staheli, and her nieces and nephews and their families.
Wilma is survived by her children: David R. (Marsha) Leavitt and Garth E. (Peggy) Leavitt of St. George, Steven R. (Doris) Leavitt of Ivins; Jane (Robert) Force, of Sandy; 18 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild; her sisters, Maybel Knell Welch and Calleen (Art) Durfee, and brother-in-law Mike Cannon.
Wilma is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raphael; daughter, RaDonna Leavitt (infant); great grandson, David Alan “Davie” Petersen (infant); sister and brother-in-law, Roma and Bert Staheli; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Shirley Bowler; brother and sister-in-law, Kay and Beverly Bowler; and sister Colleen Cannon.
Although those of us left behind will miss her, we rejoice in knowing she is finally re-united with RaDonna, Raphael, Roma and Bert, Grandma and Grandpa Hunt, and so many others.
The family wishes to thank Dixie Hospice for their wonderful service to Wilma during her last few weeks.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 22, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah. Interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery located at 600 East Tabernacle Street.