Marjorie Leaver, 93, peacefully passed away on June 11, 2021 with her daughter by her side. She was born in Denver, CO, the youngest of three daughters of Jessie and Malcolm Dennison. Much to teenage Marj’s dismay, the family moved to Salt Lake City at the start of her senior year in high school. But it all worked out! She graduated from East High School, and while attending the University of Utah, met her dear husband, Patton N. Leaver. After living briefly in Kansas, Marj and Pat returned to Salt Lake City to build their lives. Pat passed away after 35 loving and devoted years of marriage.
Family was always Marj’s priority, and she was a kind and patient caretaker throughout her life. She was an incredible daughter, wife, and mother, who always seemed to have an unlimited supply of unconditional love to share. Together with Pat, she quietly helped anyone who asked, almost always without anyone else knowing about it. Charities that took care of children, veterans, and animals captured her heart. Marj cherished her friends, and some of those friendships lasted for many, many decades. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, and PEO Chapter O. A strong, intelligent, and independent woman, honesty and integrity were also an integral part of who she was.
Adventurous, Marj loved to travel and explore. She learned to play golf later in life, joining the Bonneville Ladies League, and she developed a powerful drive that sometimes even went straight! She shared a love of gardening with her father and had such a green thumb that her houseplants lived extremely long and healthy lives. The daily Salt Lake Tribune, a daily crossword puzzle, time in St George, and a glass of wine were constants in her life. Marj loved a good party, and always made the holidays beautiful and special. She thoroughly enjoyed musical theater and often reminisced about her trips to see plays on Broadway in New York City. A devoted fan of the University of Utah and the Utah Jazz, at various times in her life she had season tickets to both. And in the last few years, she became a serious devotee of Family Feud and the Golden Girls!
Marj had a delightful and easy sense of humor. She faced life’s challenges head-on with courage and humor, and when things got tough, one of her favorite sayings was “this too, shall pass”.
Marjorie is survived by her daughter Linda, loving nieces and nephews, and special people that, in her heart, were also family (you know who you are!). Her husband, parents, sisters Elizabeth Pearson and Helen McMaster, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many adored pups and grand pups preceded her in death.
Marj would want to thank the kind and caring staff at the Wellington Assisted Living, (her home for the past 17 months) and the Brio Hospice team, who were always there for her. Hug a caregiver today….they are special people!!
There will be a short graveside service at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Per her wishes, there will be no viewing. In her honor, when the time is right, please raise a glass and toast a life well lived!
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