Orson Leon Leavitt
1899-1981

AUTOBIOGRAPHY:

"I was born September 1, 1899 in Teton, Idaho where my dad was sheering sheep and my mother cooked for the crew.

I was five years old when we moved to Lewiston, Utah where dad was a carpenter for the sugar company. I was about ten years old when we moved by wagon and horses to Burley, Idaho where mother and we kids ran the forty acre farm and dad worked on the new sugar factory in Rupert. I also helped there, I had the assignment of keeping the masons in buckets of water.

I was about twelve when we went to Lewiston again and dad bought a five acre place near uncle Joe. We kids walked three miles to school every day. When it was cold, we wrapped our feet up in grain sacks to help keep them warm. I was fifteen years old before owning my first pair of long trousers, needless to say I felt pretty grownup .

At this time I hoed sugar beets for several farmers in the area until I was sixteen, and one night I went to town to go to a show, a recruit officer gave a big patriotic speech and we found ourselves enlisting in the army. We were sent to Fort Douglas, Utah April 23, 1918.

Off we went, Charley Choat, Dennis Nettle, Jim Coley and myself, all from Lewiston, Utah. There I was placed in the 10^th Division Infantry. We went to Camp Funston, Kansas. There we remained and drilled and prepared to protect ourselves in combat. Here, I was struck behind the ear by a fellow who refused to obey orders.

I was a Corporal, even though the other fellows could hold out their arms and I could walk under them with my hat on, I was known as the corporal who could handle the hard to control new privates not yet trained in army discipline".

HISTORY by Mary Leavitt (2002):

Orson Leon Leavitt was born the second child of nine children born to Orson Leavitt and Alice Spackman, September 1, 1899 in Teton, Idaho. Leon was short in stature barely five foot six inches tall, a stocky build, hazel eyes and light brown hair. He was quick to defend his convictions.

A skate instructor when he was a young man and an excellent dancer. When he returned from his tour of duty during World War 1, he met Eliza Blair, a local girl from a family of Mormon pioneers at a special Saturday night dance at the Old Lewiston Opera Hall. They fell in love and were married December 10, 1919 in Lewiston, Utah.

They lived in Lewiston a few years. Leon and Eliza both from a long line of Mormon pioneers and life-long members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in March 1921 went to the Logan Temple to receive their endowments. Leon was ordained as High Priest.

From Lewiston they moved to Lago, Idaho to work on the rail road, a short time later they moved to Preston, Idaho. Following in his father's footsteps Leon did carpenter and construction work. A mule skinner, Leon was adept at handling five teams of horses at one time to move the rail road ties along the Minedoca Project near American Falls, Idaho.

Soon the children came along, Orson Devone, Norman Leon, Hazel, baby Esmond and Beth. Their happiness was short lived and turned to sorrow when the babies were struck with a fatal illness. Hazel , a happy child who loved to sing and dance was stricken with spinal meningitis and was left with a life-long inability to hear or talk.

In 1925 they carried their three children, Devone, Norman and Hazel to the Logan Temple to be sealed for all time and eternity.

On the advise of the family doctor, the family moved to Belleview, Idaho for Hazel's health and a new beginning, where Leon farmed and milked cows. Another son, Melvin was born while living there.

Soon came another move, another job opportunity, this time to Nyssa, Oregon a rich farming community in Southeastern Oregon along the Snake River.

The economy began to improve in the farming community and surrounding areas and Leon found employment opportunities building the Owahee Dam at Malheur Reservoir and on construction of the road up to the dam project.

The road leading up to the job-site was a long, hard journey and commuting back and forth was not an option, so Leon stayed at the construction site, coming home to the acreage when Eliza and the boys worked on the farm, whenever work permitted them to leave.

Leon later built their home in Nyssa on 5^th Street, working tirelessly on it with a broken leg and on crutches. They lived there for thirty five years, raising their family. Ruth was born on a hot summer day in July, then two days before Christmas in 1934 an unexpected set of identical twins boys , Lloyd and Boyd were born. Ten years later on a spring day in May, another son, Richard Dale was born.

Utilizing his carpenter skills, Leon continued with construction work, helping to build the Amalgamated Sugar Factory in Nyssa and working on various farms in the farm belt area.

Active in civic duties, Leon served on the Boy Scout Council for many years. He enjoyed outdoor activities and camping with the Nyssa boys at Camp Billie Rice.

In 1962 Leon and Eliza moved to Arizona to be near Ruth's and Lloyd's families. Life was good and Eliza's health improved.

In 1966 the Leavitts were called to serve on a mission with the Cheyenne Indians in Lame Deer, Montana, each brought with them their special skills of homemaking and teaching. They taught every phase of the gospel from Primary to High Priest, as well as mission parents to the many young missionaries who were away from home for the first time and very homesick. A new church was constructed under the direction of Leon in the year they served their mission.

During his retirement, Leon still missed the farming way of life and he grew rows and rows of vegetables in his garden, as well as raising rabbits. Leon loved poetry, he would choose an appropriate poem from his large collection to read at the frequent family gatherings.

Leon and Eliza were married sixty two years and were devoted to one another. Leon cared for his life long companion when her health failed, up to the end of his long, productive life when he passed away at the age of eighty-two years, March 19, 1981 at his home in Prescott, Arizona.