Lelah (Lee) Kay Wright Duke Lelah (Lee) Kay Wright Duke passed away February 5, 2019 in North Ogden Utah at the age of 81, surrounded by her loving family. She was born September 23, 1937 in Brigham City, Utah to Eunice Isaacs and Jack Earl Wright. Lee married Harold Clyde Duke Jr. January 10, 1957 in San Diego California while Harold was serving in the Navy.
Their marriage was later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. They have been married 62 years. From the beginning to the end of Lee’s disease process, Harold cared for her around the clock with love, dignity, compassion, and respect.
Lee is survived by her loving husband Harold and her five children: Rebecca Kay (Brian) Crockett Farmington Utah, Roberta Jane (Steve) Ostler Belize, Michael Alan (Karen) Duke Centerville Utah, Linda Lee Duke Moab Utah, and Jeffery Lynn (Julie) Duke Mountain Green Utah. There are 19 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren. Lee is the oldest of 5 children: Jacquelyn Wright Lee, Kenneth Scott Wright (Connie), Donald Everett Wright (Wendy), and Donna Ellen Wright Weaver (Craig).
Preceded in death by both parents, in laws, brother Ken, and a great-grandson (Aiden). Family meant everything to her. The family spent many fun times together traveling, camping, back packing, boating, and river running.
A cherished blessing has been the experience of spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She and Harold lived in a variety of places, but in recent years enjoyed their friends and neighbors in both St. George and North Ogden, Utah. Lee spent the biggest part of her youth in Willard, Utah.
She was taught at an early age to work hard. This single principle opened up many opportunities for her. She was the first in her family to attend college.
Caring for others became her love, and she began her education at St. Benedict’s School of Nursing at the tender age of 17. Two years later she married her high school sweetheart. After their five children were born, she began the pursuit of her nursing education obtaining her AD from Weber State University, BSN and MSN from the University of Utah, and finally her Doctorate of Education from Brigham Young University.
She was a member of DUP, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Theta Tau, NANDA, ANA, UNA, NLN, and also had memberships in multiple community organizations. Her nursing career lead to many experiences from bedside nursing to nurse educator to consulting. She was a member of the State Board of Nursing for 12 years and as a Bureau Manager for DOPL was in charge of Nursing, Physicians, and Psychology Boards.
She belonged to a variety of organizations in nursing and held leadership roles in many. As a nurse educator, her goal was to help students and faculty fulfil the role of nursing in a caring and competent manner. She traveled throughout the state teaching health care principles to a wide variety of students.
She spent many years at Weber State University, but also held positions in Nursing at Florida Gulf Coast University, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, and the University of Phoenix. Additionally, she has directed the development and accreditation of several proprietary nursing programs. Her nursing career has touched the lives of many nurses and she delighted in this accomplishment.
Lee loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ and has had opportunities to serve in a variety of church callings. She and her sweetheart Harold served in the New York Utica Mission and Vanuatu Port Vila Mission. Lee has always known she could never have done anything without the help of the Lord, and that was manifest to her again and again as she served as the Mission Nurse in Vanuatu.
What an experience! She sincerely loves the Lord and learned to listen to the inspiration that comes from him. Pappa God loves His missionaries!
Since 1991 you would find Lee quilting in her spare time. This became her love and passion and she has made quilts for all the family marriages, grandkids, and great grandkids. These works of art she left behind will be treasured for generations to come.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday February 11, 2019 at the North Ogden 4th Ward, 1791 North 600 East, North Ogden Utah. A viewing will be held on Sunday February 10th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd. Ogden Utah and from 10 to 10:40 a.m. prior to services Monday at the church.
Interment in the Willard Precinct Cemetery, 470 North Main Street, Willard Utah Special thank you to Huntsman Cancer Institute Medical and Nursing staff, and to hospice nurse Russell from Ogden Intermountain Healthcare Hospice and to the North Ogden 4th Ward. In lieu of flowers please donate to The Church of Jesus Christ Humanitarian Fund.
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