LeRoy James Luers

Our beloved brother and uncle, LeRoy James Luers "Lee", passed away Friday, October 10, 2014 at home after a long battle with diabetes. Lee passed peacefully at his home in Magna, UT (Salt Lake City) with family present. Lee was born October 5, 1948 in Riverton, Wyoming to George Henry and Thelma Edna Luers. He graduated from Riverton High School in 1967. He attended classes at Central Wyoming College and Oregon College of Education, in Monmouth, Oregon. In 1970, Lee joined the U.S. Navy, serving for six years. He served originally on the USS Mullany (DD-528); then primarily served on the USS Hepburn (DE-1055). During Lee's service time the USS Hepburn went on two West-Pac deployments to the western Pacific, 1972 and 1975. In 1972, it was acting in escort service off the coast of Viet Nam. During the two West Pacs the Hepburn visited ports at Pearl Harbor; Guam; Sasebo, Japan; Subic Bay, Philippines; Hong Cong; and Sydney, Australia. After leaving the navy in 1976, Lee lived in Salt Lake City, UT, where his family relocated. In the 1980's Lee became a long-time driver for Greyhound Bus lines traveling throughout the Midwest and the western states. Due to his diabetes, Lee retired from Greyhound, he then worked for the US Postal Service, Newspaper Agency Corporation, and, for 15 years, as a mail currier with Wells Fargo Bank before retirement. Lee loved history, music, and collecting stamps. He had a large collection of books and DVDs on US history and a large collection of vinyl LP records and CDs. He loved traditional country music and 50s and 60s popular music. Throughout his life Lee enjoyed doing genealogy research. Aunts, uncles, and cousins around the country knew to contact Lee if they were looking for names and dates in their family tree. LeRoy Luers is survived by his sister Leona and brother-in-law John Perea; brother George Jr. (Butch); nieces, Debby(Mike) Rowsell and Martyna (James Carlton) Vernor, nephews Monte (Tricia) Perea, Chuck (Lisa) Perea, grandniece Randi (Emmanuel) Godoy, and grandnephews Chris (Ciarra), Nick and Noah Perea, Chance (Candise) Rowsell, Devyn Vernor, and Ikkin Perea; also great grandnieces and nephews. Proceeded in death by his parents; an older sister Bernie Ann; and by nephew John Perea Jr. A family viewing, prior to cremation, was held October 13, 2014. Internment and grave-side service will be determined at a future date. A special thanks for years of dedicated care provided by healthcare providers and staff of the Salt Lake Veterans Administration Medical Center.