Leland Gray

1930 - 2016

Leland James Gray, our beloved husband, dad, grandpa, grandpa great, and friend went on to a greater work on the evening of August 5, 2016, surrounded by his loving and adoring family.

Leland was born in Lehi, Utah to Clarence and Fern Armstrong Gray, on August 21, 1930.  He was blessed to have a sister, Nola, and a big brother, Junius and a little brother, Don.  He also had a brother, Kenneth, who died in infancy.

He married LaRae Robinson on April 9, 1953, in the Salt Lake City temple.  Together they were blessed with six children: Gary (Cherry), Cathy Laycock (Doug), Judy Dudley (Bud), Linda Bone, Barbara Ferre’ (Todd), and Mary Robinson.

His two great loves were his family and work.  He would always say that “when it is all said and done, the only thing you have in this life is your family”.  Family was everything to him, and no one worked harder than Leland.  We are grateful he left us the legacy of love for family and working hard.

He was a heavy equipment operator most of his life.  He loved nothing more than climbing on a big piece of yellow equipment and working his magic.  After work he would go on to another love - farming until dark, on his green equipment.

We have great memories of working on the farm with Dad, but we also have great memories of many trips we took as a family, including camping, snowmobiling and jeeping with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

During the winter months, when he wasn’t farming, he and LaRae were able to go to Yuma, Arizona in their fifth-wheel and enjoy the warm sunshine and many close friends for a few months; but when the hint of winter was coming to a close, they were on their way back home to begin another farming season.

Leland is a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in various callings, the most important as a faithful home teacher.

He is survived by his loving and caring wife, LaRae, their children, 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brothers, and one great grandson.

Dad, we will forever love you and will miss you, until we meet again.

We would like to give special thanks to our mom for her constant love and care of our dad, to our family and friends who were so willing to come and sit with Dad when needed, and to Amber Larsen of Canyon Home Care Hospice, and to Candice Hammer.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, August 15th, at 11:00 a.m. at the American Fork 25th Ward, 320 North 100 East, American Fork, Utah, where viewings will be held Sunday, August 14th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and prior to services on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the American Fork City Cemetery.