Rena Maughan Leishman Murray

Rena Leishman Murray, 84 , passed away on May 26, 2017, 3 days short of her 85th birthday. She and her twin sister Renee were born May 29, 1932 to Elmer Archibald Leishman and Rena Poppleton Maughan. She married John Darley Murray on June 18, 1953, in the Logan LDS Temple.
Rena spent all of her life in Wellsville, where she attended Floradell Elementary and Wellsville Junior High. She and her twin sister, Renee, twin sisters Sherry and Shirley, and brother Courtney all graduated from South Cache High School in 1950.
After graduation, she worked at the Defense Depot in Ogden until she begin her lifelong career as wife and mother.
Rena enjoyed growing up in Wellsville, as a young child she enjoyed participating in the annual Founder’s Day celebration. She loved riding on floats and participating in the sham battle. She was very active in the community and was named “Wellsville Citizen of the Year” in 2007.
Rena always loved to play sports and especially loved to watch her husband and later her kids and grandkids participate in various sporting events and activities.
She was famous for her “Pink Sugar Cookies”, and they made an appearance at every family event and many times a plate would be delivered to neighbors and friends.
Every Christmas Rena would make her famous “Christmas Chocolates”. Her kids and later her grandkids looked forward to helping “roll caramels” or “stir creams”, but mostly they looked forward to eating them.
Rena’s hobbies included knitting, crocheting, hardanger, embroidery, and sewing, but was best known for her quilting. For several years, she made quilts for Wellsville City to raffle off each Founder’s Day. Each child, grandchild and great-grandchild have received quilts from “grandma”. She also, with the help of others, made a quilt for the city of Wellsville to be displayed at Salt Lake City during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Some of her greatest memories were quilting with her sisters, cousins and friends every Wednesday. Many people have commented on her beautiful handiwork.
As a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she served in many different capacities in her ward, including the Primary Presidency and Relief Society President.
As a breast cancer survivor since 1977, she has often visited others stricken with the disease to give words of comfort and hope for recovery.
She has left a great legacy to her family of service and love.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Rena, husband John, sisters, Elna Nielson, Lavay Larsen and Sherry Tibbitts, brother Thomas Kent Leishman and grandson Terrill Lyle.
Rena is survived by her children, Christine (Bob) Lindley of Wellsville, Nolan (Lori) Murray of Mendon, Karen (Allen) Lyle of St. George, JeNae (Kim) Gittins of Wellsville, Mary Sue (Todd) Shelton of Mendon, Nedra (Dale) Lindley of Wellsville, Janice (Gerald) Nelson of Idaho Falls, Idaho and Jason (Konie) Murray of Wellsville: 25 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her siblings, Courtney Leishman of Provo, Shirley Jensen of Mendon, Renee Bingham of Logan, Kay Leishman of Cottonwood Heights, and Linda Coleman (Washington DC Mission).
Rena is also survived by her sister-in-law Shirley Teeples of Sunset.
Funeral services will be held at noon Monday, June 5th in the Wellsville Stake Center, 30 South Center St., Wellsville. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 4th at the Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center St., Logan, and from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Monday prior to the funeral. Interment will be in the Wellsville City Cemetery.
Till we meet again.