LeRoy Briggs Thompson

1935 - 2012
After a life filled with joy, happiness and service, the greatest man you ever met was called home on May 14, 2012 after enduring six months of pancreatic cancer. Roy was born in Hiawatha, Utah on September 19, 1935 to Ortize and LaVera Briggs Thompson. He married his sweetheart and love of his life, Chloe Jean Rice, on April 22, 1955 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
Roy graduated from Davis High School in 1954 and attended Utah State University. His life as a working employee began at the age of 12 years and did not stop until he had walked almost every inch of mountain and valley in the county! He loved his good friends and associates from his job of 43 years as a Davis County Surveyor and many of those years as Deputy County Surveyor. He never complained about going to work.
Roy was an active member of the LDS church and served in multiple callings. He was the most dedicated home teacher no matter who he served. He loved everyone. In his current calling as ward executive secretary he was happily fulfilling his duties even from his hospital bed up until a week before his death. Roy passed on at home with his wife and daughter by his side.
He had a contagious smile and laugh, and the catchiest upbeat personality. A person was always better for knowing him. He was a silent giant, always working behind the scenes to improve the lives of others with no desire for personal recognition. He made great sacrifices to provide his family with wonderful opportunities. Yard work brought him a lot of joy and he grew the most amazing roses. If anyone was known to be sick or not able to do their own yard work, Roy would pack up all his equipment and head over to make their yard look like it came straight out of a magazine. Working on the Brent Rice cabin in Dammeron Valley was a joy. Life will be lonely without him in our lives and his laugh ringing through the house, but we know we will see him again and know he is continuing his dedicated service for the Lord. He would encourage anyone to go forward with faith and joy. And so we will!
Roy was preceded in death by his parents, sister: Helen Penny, and a grandson: Sherald Thompson. Survived by his wife; children: Cory (Kim) Thompson, Patricia Thompson, Emily (Joe) Brough and Martha Thompson; siblings: Maryam (Leonard) Fobert, Ortize (Shirley) Thompson, Joyce Goodrich and David Thompson; 13 grandchildren, 14 Great-grandchildren and many nieces & nephews.
Serving LDS missions: Mallin Brough(grandson): Uganda, Africa; Megan Thompson (granddaughter) Arizona; Emily, Joe and Ganzie Brough(daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter): Guatamala.
Funeral Services: Monday, May 21st, 11a.m. at the LDS Gailey Park Ward meeting house, 321 South 50 West, Kaysville. Viewing: Sunday, May 20th, 6-8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 1941 North Main, Farmington 84025 (Across from Cherry Hill Water Park) and again 9:45 - 10:45 a.m. prior to the funeral service at the church. Interment: Farmington Cemetery. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com

Published in Deseret News from May 18 to May 19, 2012