Leonila "Lee" Delia Lopez Campbell's Obituary
Leonila (Lee) Delia Lopez Campbell, our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully on December 1, 2023, at the age of 82.
Lee was born May 10, 1941, in Los Angeles, California to Julian Teran Lopez and Elisa Munoz Lopez. She was their only child but had 2 half-brothers and 4 half-sisters who were much older than her.
During her early life, she lived in several areas of southern California, mostly in the Orange County area because her father owned several small grocery stores and gas stations. She would often tell stories of helping in the grocery store alongside her mother and father and how she enjoyed the time spent working with them. This helped her at an early age learn how to relate to others and achieve excellent work ethics.
Lee graduated from Mater Dei High School in 1959 in Garden Grove, California and then went on to further her studies at Santa Ana Jr. Collage and Sawyer’s Business College.
In August 1963, Lee and her parents were visited by two missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Elder Campbell, and Elder Russell. After a few weeks of being taught the gospel lessons, they accepted the gospel and were baptized. Soon after their baptism, Elder Campbell’s calling was completed, and he returned home to Utah.
After returning home, he decided to write to Lee and was excited when he received a letter in return. After several months of letters back and forth, their love for each other grew stronger day by day. In December of 1963, Conley acquired the permission he needed from his parents to have her join them for Christmas in Utah. This was mom’s first time seeing snow! The family took her to Temple Square where she was invited to play the organ in the Tabernacle. They also introduced her to sledding and snowball fights.
Conley proposed to Lee Christmas Eve 1963 and later married on June 26, 1964, in the Los Angeles Temple for time and all eternity.
Lee and Conley made their home in Southern California and gave birth to 4 daughters and 1 son. Lee became quite good as a seamstress and learned to make clothes for the whole family. In fact, all our Disneyland trips would consist of matching t-shirts. With her homemaking skills and organizational finesse, Lee was called to the position of Homemaking Leader for the Relief Society, teaching time management, cooking, and sewing. Lee was active in the gospel and taught her family by example. Conley and Lee loved their family and spending time with them was very important.
In June 1978, Conley accepted a job offer in Brigham City which moved our family to Utah. Lee found new opportunities in the neighborhood and grew to love her time in Brigham City. She taught Spanish, as this was her first language and she also taught piano lessons as she was an accomplished pianist and played beautifully. Later, Lee took on the workforce outside the home to become a travel agent for 18 and a half years. She also taught travel school and worked in the wedding registry at ZCMI for many years, which she very much enjoyed.
Lee had a love for people and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She instilled qualities in her family that would follow them throughout their lives. She enjoyed baking, sewing, canning, crafting, music, and just being a mother. She was immensely talented and especially loved her scrapbooking and needle work. She always kept an organized and tidy home that always made it inviting to come home to.
Lee is preceded in death by her loving husband, Conley Barrus Campbell, both parents, two half-brothers and four half-sisters. She is survived by their 5 children, Yolanda Brammer (Matt), Monica Sturdevant (Charles), Elena Rains, Ramon Campbell (Tammy) and Laura Mast, 18 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren.
She has returned home to be with her loving husband and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We know she was welcomed with open arms.
Our hearts are filled with gratitude and love for all the CNA’s at Spring Gardens of Draper as well as Bristol Hospice who showed their love, compassion, and support for both of our parents as well as to all family members who visited. We hold a special place in our heart for all the tender mercies they have shown. We could not have done this without you!
Mom and Dad will be watching over us and will always be in our hearts and minds every day! We love you Mom forever and look forward to when we will see you both again!
Viewing and funeral services will be held at Premier Funeral Home on Saturday, December 16, 2023 located at 67 East 8000 South, Midvale, Utah. The viewing will be held from 10:00–10:45am and services to follow starting at 11:00 am. Interment will be at Elysian Burial Gardens located at 1075 East 4580 South, Murray, Utah.
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