Nancy Jenkins

Nancy Leishman Jenkins

Nancy Leishman Jenkins passed away on November 7, 2021, in Layton, Utah, following a short battle with cancer. She was born on August 22, 1940, in Logan, Utah to Phyllis Liljenquist Leishman and Robert Bradshaw Leishman. She grew up, the youngest child, in Provo, Utah, in a house full of music, cooking, the gospel and wonderful family and friends, all things that would remain important to her throughout her lifetime.

Though not many people know it, in high school, Nancy was a twirler for the Provo High School band. It was also then that she became an avid skier. She attended Brigham Young University (BYU) where she earned bachelor’s degrees in English and Psychology, going on to teach English at nearby Orem High School. While at BYU, she met a handsome young man who would become the love of her life, Arlen Dean Jenkins. They married in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Salt Lake temple on June 3, 1963. They were married for 58 years.

Nancy and Arlen lived in Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah and Peoria, Illinois before finally settling down in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Serving in a variety of church leadership roles and raising four daughters kept Nancy busy full-time. The girls took after their mother in a myriad of ways: a love of music, singing, the arts, cooking and a love for good food (especially ice cream and chocolate!). They also inherited their mother’s penchant for humor.

A good sense of humor and the Gospel of Jesus Christ helped Nancy combat the frustration and pain of numerous health problems and surgeries. She coped as well by means of her great love of literature. Nancy was a voracious reader, teaching her daughters to read at an early age and swapping books with her family even through her last illness. In her book club, she was responsible for presenting one book once a year – and she spent the entire year preparing to teach that one lesson. Club members remarked on how thorough, intriguing and passionate Nancy was with her lessons.

Nancy had a special love for her grandchildren and spoiled them. Every Christmas, Nancy hosted her annual “Christmas Sock Dive” competition, which the kids loved! She also went to every grandchild’s sporting event that she could.

In addition to doting on her grandchildren, Nancy also found joy in quilting, collecting antiques and cheering for her professional sports teams - go Giants and 49ers! Her grammar skills were infamous, and her dessert-making talents were unparalleled. Her recipe for fudge cake was a closely guarded secret and the dessert left people begging for more.

Through all the homework, doctor’s visits, two-hour commutes, music lessons, surgeries, choir performances, games, church callings, service projects and more, Nancy and Arlen raised their girls and weaved together a beautiful marriage built on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, absolute trust, hard work, unwavering commitment and unconditional love. Their girls never saw their parents fight or raise their voices to each other. Not once.

In the end, along with the grammar lessons, Nancy leaves us with her prime directives: 1) Love your family and friends fiercely, and 2) Follow the Savior, Jesus Christ. For it has been through His love and blessing that she has been able to endure to the end and now, finally, rests in peace.

Preceding Nancy in death are her parents, Phyllis and Robert Leishman, her brother, Robert Lynn Leishman, and her sister, Norma Cheney. Nancy is survived by her husband, her two sisters, Nina (Grant Beutler) Johnston and Karen (Joel) Allred, her four daughters, Teresa (William Maughan) Jenkins, Melinda Jenkins Holloway, Melanie (Barton) Anderson and Kristina (Richard) Jenkins Whetzel, and her grandchildren: Rachel Maughan, Jordan Stowe, Isaiah Holloway, Olivia Holloway, Tad Anderson (Hope), Alanna Anderson, Dean Anderson, Nate Anderson, and Jadyn Whetzel.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 13, 2021, at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd., Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. prior to the service at the mortuary.

Interment, Wellsville Utah Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff at Inspiration Home Health and Hospice for their loving care and support during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you take your family out to ice cream. Nancy would have loved that.

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