Marvin LeRoy Weakley

Marvin LeRoy Weakley passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025, in St. George, Utah. He was 85 years old. He was born in North Platte, Nebraska on March 27, 1940, to Wesley Albert Weakley and Laura Mae Nicholson. He grew up as an only child since his baby sister, whom he named, Cheyenne was stillborn. He contracted polio in 1952. While in the hospital, many nights he and his hospital friends would lay watching TV with the sound turned all the way down so the nurses couldn’t hear it. If they did, they’d come shut it off. He fondly remembered doing “pop-a-wheelies” down the hall in his wheelchair at the hospital. When he heard the nurses coming, he’d hurry back to his room and sneak in bed, pulling his legs up to his chest so the physical therapy wouldn’t hurt so much. The doctors marvelled at his recovery and longevity. They didn’t expect him to be able to walk beyond 45 years old. They predicted he’d be in a wheelchair for most of his life. His beloved mother passed away when he was only 14 years old. He was attending Catholic School at St. Peter’s School in Henderson, Nevada at the time. He then attended Basic High School, also in Henderson, Nevada. He and his father, Wesley, both joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Marvin was 16 years old. He was then called on a mission to the Mexico, Chihuahua mission. After struggling to learn the Spanish language, he was transferred to Texas to serve the remainder of his mission in the English Language. He teased that he “almost got the Texan language” by the end of his mission. Upon returning from his mission, he reconnected with his friend Barbara Oliphant in the singles ward in Los Angeles, California. He agreed to drive Barbara to a friend’s wedding in San Francisco and that is when they fell in love. They married on July 25, 1964, in the Los Angeles Temple. Together they raised 10 children. They lived in Henderson Nevada until 1976 and then moved to Veyo, Utah. One infamous day in 1981, Marvin was working on a roof when his head brushed up against some electrical wires. With a drill in his hand, he was grounded and instantly electrocuted. He fell from the roof and when his body hit the ground, his heart restarted. He was a walking miracle. Marvin’s career ranged around mechanical work and hard labor. He was very good with his hands. He loved fixing things. After all the kids were raised and moved out of the house, he retired from full time work and began to focus on Family History and Temple Work. To keep himself fit he would climb the stairs with a paint can or jug of milk in each hand. He’d do 10 or 15 climbs each day. It was around this time that Marvin learned to crochet from the Relief Society ladies in the Veyo Ward. He traded his screwdrivers and wrenches for crochet hooks in his upper shirt pocket. He lovingly remarked that the Relief Society had turned him into a “hooker.” Anyone who knew Marvin at this time received a hat, blanket, slippers or shawl as a gift from his capable and talented hands. He crocheted temple altar cloths for 15 different temples and made over 100 hats in a service project for the people of Brazil. In 2005, Marvin and Barbara were called on a mission to Honduras, Comayaguela. They served there for 18 months, experiencing many adventures and influencing many saints. He still struggled learning the Spanish Language, so he let Barbara do most of the talking. He would say, “I can cry in any language.” He also learned the phrase, “habla mi esposa,” meaning “speak to my wife.” He also called himself the “burro” because he carried all the bags everywhere they went. While serving their mission in Honduras, Marvin and Barbara’s house in Veyo burned down. Upon their return, they moved to Payson, Utah where they spent many happy years in the Park Ward and neighborhood. Marvin attended the temple every day, all day for many years. He started this work at the Provo Temple and continued it after the Payson Temple was built. He worked as an Ordinance worker once a week and the rest of the week he served as a patron. In 2022, Marvin took a hard fall on the way into a doctor’s appointment and broke his back. He was almost 82 years old. This fall ultimately caused him to spend most of his time in a wheelchair and walk with the assistance of a walker. He outlived his childhood doctor’s prediction. In 2023 Marvin and Barbara moved to Enoch Utah to live with their daughter Rozella Angell. Most recently they moved to St. George. He recently quipped that he kept getting “rejected” by the heavens because he had so many near-death experiences. Last Friday he energetically announced that he was feeling “fantastic” and hoped he wouldn’t get “rejected again.” Heaven welcomed him with open arms, we are sure. Marvin lived an adventurous and inspiring life. He will be loved and missed greatly. He is preceded in death by his parents Wesley and Laura, his sister Cheyenne, his sweet daughter Lorina, and 5 grandbabies, Zacheri, Kyler, Maygen, Lexi, and Justan. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara, 8 sons and 1 daughter, Zim Alvin (Anna), Wayne Albert (Alene), Rozella Angell (Jason), Lee Marv, Wes Heime (Cassie), Lynn LeRoy (Jennifer), Marion Clark (Meredith), RoyAl (Janette), and Keith Foster (Randi), 61 Grandkids and 37 Great Grandkids. Services will be held in the St. George 10th Ward Chapel 591 West 500 North St. George, UT 84770 on May 16, 2025. Viewing at 12:30pm and Funeral Services at 2pm. Interment at the Veyo Utah Cemetery following the services. Live Feed of the Service: www.youtube.com/@stg10livestreams Family and friends are invited to share condolences and memories online at www.serenitystg.com and @SerenityFuneralSTG

Marvin LeRoy Weakley

March 27, 1940 - May 12, 2025