Melvin Wayne Leavitt

Life Sketch for Melvin Wayne Leavitt August 9, 1929 – November 22, 2022 A resident of the Southern Utah area for much of his life, Melvin “Wayne” Leavitt passed away peacefully on November 22, 2022 at the age of 93 in his home in St. George. Wayne was born on August 9, 1929 in St. George, Washington, Utah to Howard Melvin Leavitt and Lottie (Bowler) Leavitt. At the young age of two, Wayne’s father died unexpectedly, after which Albert Ulrich stepped in and raised Wayne, his older sister, and a younger brother together with Lottie in the nearby communities of Gunlock and Veyo. Wayne graduated from Dixie High School, and attended Dixie College for a while to study general business. Wayne met the love of his life, Mary “Lucy” Wittwer of Santa Clara, Utah, during his high school years. They were later married in St. George on April 26, 1949. Three months earlier, Wayne joined the United States Army where he served honorably for three and a half years, including combat service in the Korean War and as a telephone lineman and instructor in the Signal Corp, receiving the Korean Service Medal with four Bronze Stars, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and Merit Unit Emblem. Following the war, Wayne was a sales clerk at the Veyo Mercantile, operated three different grain and dairy farms with his step-dad Albert, and was a long-haul commercial truck driver. He later attended the Mohler Barber College in California and became it’s manager, and then operated his own barbershop to begin his business career. He became involved in the grocery business, serving as a department manager at Harmons, as well as owning and operating three 7-11 stores and a vending business. Wayne had two passions he enjoyed in life. He loved to golf with his buddies, and he loved the game of Rummikub. He ate, played Rummikub, and slept…and then did it all over again the next day. We have bestowed upon him the honorary title of Rummikub World Champion. On June 15, 1966, Wayne and his family were sealed together for time and all eternity in the St. George Utah Temple. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Wayne served faithfully in several Church callings, including elders quorum president and as a stake baptismal coordinator along with his sweet wife. Together, along with other family members, Wayne and Lucy faithfully attended the temple weekly, receiving saving ordinances for hundreds of ancestors until his health began to decline. Wayne is now celebrating, free of disease and limitations, a glorious reunion with his loved ones who have passed before him. At this holiday season, we are especially grateful to our Father in Heaven and for the gift of His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, for their matchless love, and through whom the Plan of Happiness, and the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ make eternal families possible. We are grateful to our husband and dad who sacrificed so much for us. Wayne is survived by his wife of 73 years, two daughters and a son, 7 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a brother. We are very grateful for all those who gave our husband and father such wonderful and tender compassionate care over the past three months, including the care teams of Zion’s Way Hospice and Home Helpers. We also extend our gratitude for the compassionate service provided by so many of the Westridge Ward, as well as the priesthood young men of the ward who faithfully administered the sacrament, week after week, to Wayne while he was home-bound. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at 1:00 pm at the Veyo, Utah Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to share tributes online at: www.SerenityStG.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 986-9100

Melvin Wayne Leavitt

August 9, 1929 - November 22, 2022