Leland Despain

FUNERAL RECORDING -

Leland Weston Despain passed peacefully, surrounded by his family on January 7th 2022.

Born in Murray Utah on May 7, 1942 to S. Elmo and Thea Westover. One of six children, his younger years were spent in the shadows of the peaks of Little Cottonwood Canyon where his family had lived for generations as part of the Granite community.

His love of hunting and fishing were established at a young age and he enjoyed growing up in an area that was filled with opportunities to love the earth and all it provided.

Weston graduated from Jordan High School in 1960 and served a Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the California Mission, covering much of California, Nevada and Arizona. He had a strong testimony and a love of his Savior.

Weston attended Brigham Young University following his mission and there met Charlene Horton. They fell quickly in love and married on December 27, 1963. Their 58th anniversary had recently been celebrated.

Weston and Charlene moved to California and then Washington before finding their way back home to Utah where they lived together in Granite for 51 more years. Weston spent his career in the construction industry, using his sharp eye for detail to create beautiful spaces to live and work in.

Weston held many church callings and loved serving others. His love for his Savior, his family and community kept him very busy. His love of mechanics made his hobby a blessing to others as the neighborhood mechanic. He was self -taught and able to fix anything from a tractor to a family suburban and everything in between.

Weston had a deep love of God and a fierce loyalty to family. He was playful and quick to tease and laugh with. He also possessed a reverence for things bigger than himself. In later years with diminished hearing he became watchful, never missing the important details surrounding him. He was a willing teacher to those who asked for help and would find solutions for many things that were insurmountable to others.

He is proceeded in death by his parents S. Elmo and Thea Westover, His sisters Norma, Edwina, LuJean, and his brother Sheron as well as his son in law John Gallop. He also has a younger sister Ardeen Simmons (Ron).

He is survived by his wife Charlene Horton Despain and his children. Bernadine John (Bryce) Tammy Dearing (James) Diana Gallop Jared Despain (Hollii) Travis Despain (Patsy) and Branden Despain (Viri) Samuel Ramon (Linda). He is also survived by his 19 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

He has loved us well and will be so greatly missed but we are comforted in the knowledge that we will see him again and that families truly are forever.

Funeral service Friday, January 14, 2022, with a viewing from 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. at the Granite Ward, 9575 South 3100 East, Sandy, Utah.  Interment Granite Cemetery, 2969 East 9800 South, Sandy, Utah.  Cannon Mortuary, Funeral Directors.