Our honest, loving, caring, spiritual, passionate father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed away in his home in Springville, Utah on Friday, May 14, 2022.
Lee Measom was born on August 28, 1940 in Payson, Utah to George and Joy Fullmer Measom. As a child he lived in Tacoma, Washington and Springville, Utah. Stories of he and his friends while attending Springville High School have brought tears of laughter as well as shocked expressions to all of us over the years. Upon graduation as a Springville Red Devil in 1958, he attended and played football at Snow College.
While a student at SHS, he met the love of his life, Karen Faye Oldroyd. They were married on November 24, 1961, in Springville, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the LDS Salt Lake City Temple. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary by taking their children to Cancun, Mexico. Often the kids heard their parents express that they’d rather be with them than anyone else. His sweetheart, Karen “R”, preceded him in death just seven weeks ago which led to him dying of a broken heart.
Together Lee and Karen raised 5 children: Lance (deceased), Kami Lee (Chris) Creer, Keri (Scott) Francis, Spencer, and Karlee (Dustin) Uresk.
Lee loved getting together for barbequed cheeseburgers in his backyard with his wife, kids, and grandkids. He relished the time they spent together around a bountiful table. Celebrating Christmas, including hand picking special nutcrackers for each one of his grandchildren, organizing and providing sub-for-Santa for multiple families, attending family Christmas parties, and viewing Christmas lights were the highlights of Lee’s year. He’d have kept a Christmas tree up year-round if Karen would have let him.
Relationships were the most important factor in Lee’s life. He loved, loved, loved his children, grandchildren, and all of those who affectionately called him “Papa Lee”. Always wearing a Hawaiian shirt, he never missed a sporting event, choir concert, dance performance, art show, academic awards assembly, graduation, wedding, or celebration. As he became a grandfather, his support continued. He loved cheering his grandkids on as they danced, cheered, performed in plays, sang, played on sports teams, earned academic awards, etc. His daily actions showed the commitment he had to those who meant the most to him.
As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lee served in numerous church callings including several bishoprics, leadership roles and teaching positions. He and Karen served a mission in the Texas, Houston Mission where he fell in love with the people and the missionaries. Lifelong friends were made and Lee enjoyed sharing stories about the mission.
Lee studied at the University of Utah. Those who knew him best stated that he was “the smartest man they ever knew.” Lee enjoyed reading, learning, discussing, debating, and analyzing a plethora of subjects. If you were playing Trivial Pursuit you wanted him on your team. We all enjoyed learning details about trees, rocks, ducks and birds, classic cars, food, animals, countries, religion, culture, and music, just to name a few. He taught us how to ask questions and learn from every experience.
Music was a vital part of Lee’s life. Many times he’d ask, “Who are your favorite bands? What’s your favorite song? Do you know what instrument is being played?” Legend has it that Lee attended Woodstock, met Johnny Cash, danced with Garth Brooks, put his fins up with Jimmy Buffett, drank in the tunes of Paul McCartney, and attended numerous shows and concerts. His all-time favorite band was The Beatles and he made sure his kids and grandkids knew all about the Fab Four. During his final days, he listened to some of his most loved songs while wrapped in his Minky Couture blanket.
Lee found great joy in meeting people while establishing successful businesses throughout Utah and Idaho. If you had your ears pierced during the 1980’s-1990’s, it’s very possible it was done at one of Lee’s stores. He was truly interested in people and had a magnetic personality that drew others in. He was our best friend.
Lee is survived by his children,15 grandchildren: Brooke, Amber, Alexander, Andrew Lee, Nickolas, Benjamin, McKenna (Tyler), Saige, Tess, Cameron, McKay, Gracie, Carter, and Isabella; sister, Diane (Richard) Allen, step-sisters Betty (Dale) Zufelt, Diane Peugh (Reynoir) Peterson, brother-in-law, Rod Oldroyd (Christine); sisters-in-law, Julie Huntington (Mack), Carole Oldroyd and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen, parents George and Joy Fullmer Measom, his sister Colleen (Darrel) Wright, in-laws Roland and Faye Oldroyd, step-brother Larry Peugh, brother-in-law Kendal Oldroyd, son Lance Measom, and grandson Matthew Measom.
A viewing for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, May 17th from 6-8 pm at Wheeler Mortuary located on 211 East 200 South, Springville. Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel, 355 East Center Street, Springville, with a viewing held that morning from 9:30-10:30 am prior to the services at the church.
Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to their hospice nurse Nancy Trapnell who has patiently, kindly, and lovingly cared for Lee and Karen over the past three months.
In lieu of flowers, our dad would love for you to take your family out to dinner.
Please wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt and join us in celebrating the life of Lee!
For those unable to attend in person, you may join us at 11:00 a.m. via Livestream at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/wheelermortuary
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
6:00 - 8:00 pm (Mountain time)
Wheeler Mortuary
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
9:30 - 10:30 am (Mountain time)
LDS Chapel, 355 E. Center Street
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)
LDS Chapel, 355 E. Center Street
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