Lee D Arnett Obituary (2023)

Lee Dexter Arnett, age 87, passed away peacefully on Oct. 24, 2023 in Spanish Fork, Utah. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 4, 1936 to Willard Preston Arnett and Leah Blanche (Hunter) Arnett. Lee was the youngest of his parents' four children following his sisters, Leah Mae and Norma, and his brother Stanley. Lee played saxophone and was the drum major in the Lakewood High School marching band. He began playing professionally at age 15. He left his Ohio home after completing high school to join the US Air Force. As a member of the marching band at the newly opened Air Force Academy in northern Colorado, Lee performed at Eisenhower's second inauguration. His time in the Air Force eventually inspired a hobby: over two decades later Lee held a single-engine pilot's license with commercial and instrument ratings that he used for personal enjoyment and family travel. While serving at the Air Force academy, Lee joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lee served God through his church in many ways over the succeeding decades including music, building construction, leading youth and adult groups, and helping others. Lee married Leah Annette Johnson, a native of Phoenix Arizona, in Denver Colorado on June 21, 1956. Their marriage was sealed on March 15, 1957 in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They are loved by their children Gary A. Arnett of Blue Springs Missouri, Patricia L. (Arnett) Fielding of Ammon Idaho, Larry S. Arnett of Springville Utah, Daniel J. Arnett of Selah Washington, and David W. Arnett of Olathe Kansas. Lavinia Tisi of Tuba City Arizona is like a daughter to Leah and Lee. They have been blessed with 26 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren. Leah and Lee lived in the Denver, Cleveland, and Los Angeles California areas before relocating to Yakima Washington in 1976. They would live most of their lives in Yakima, a community they loved. Lee moved to Springville in 2022 to be with family there. Lee had several jobs during his life, including owner of a radio & television repair shop, Engineering roles at many radio and TV stations, and both technical and artistic roles with the Tape-Athon Company in Los Angeles. In Yakima, Lee and Leah owned and operated Arnett Engineering, Rental Service, and Arnett Properties. Lee taught electronics to high school students at the Yakima Valley Vocational Skills Center. Lee served as President of the Yakima Valley Landlord Association, and President of the Yakima and State Mobile Home Park Associations. Music was always a big part of Lee's life, his home, and his family. Lee, Leah, and all their children learned to sing well and play instruments. Lee led or played in several Big Band style dance bands. He rubbed shoulders with well-known people from Arthur Fiedler and Tim Conway to George Greeley, Henry Mancini, and Leroy Anderson. Lee even appeared as a TV cameraman in an opening sequence of the movie Fortune Cookie. Lee is survived by all his descendants. We will miss his stories, his wit, and his songs. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, as well as his beloved wife with whom he lived most of the best stories. We are confident he was welcomed by them with tears of joy, some jubilant songs, and maybe a joke or two. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM MST on November, 11th 2023 at the Hobble Creek Stake Center, 495 S. Canyon Rd., Springville, Utah. The public viewing will happen before the funeral from 9:30 - 10:30 AM at the Stake Center. The family will gather privately from 10:30 - 11:00 AM to close the casket. A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM PST on November 14th at Terrace Heights Memorial Park, 3001 Terrace Heights Dr., Yakima, Washington. Video links to the services can be found below: Utah funeral video Link: https://zoom.us/j/95928570177?pwd=WmV4V2trb3UrQTVZZU1lcjU5K1ovdz09 Washington graveside service video link: https://churchofjesuschrist.zoom.us/j/98224361742?pwd=dzU4KzVVZTBEVU5IVWtqU2laRTVTdz09 +++++++++++++ To all who knew and loved Lee Arnett: Mom & Dad are together again. The 106 members of Lee and Leah Arnetts family are each experiencing different emotions as Dad has now passed. After reading what Larry (Lees son) experienced firsthand and then shared with his family, we (as siblings) decided to share these comments and feelings with Dads friends, that we all feel as well. +++++++++++++ Dad passed away late last Tuesday night (24 October 2023). He had been living with my wife and I in Springville, Utah since last November. Many of you were aware his health had been failing. He had cardio-pulmonary disease. With that, four hospitalizations for pneumonias this year has been a bit much. During his last pneumonia back in August, he asked the ICU doctor to discharge him to go home under hospice care. The doctors thought that was a good plan and believed he would only live a few more hours, maybe days. Back at my home in Springville he surged. He said to many, "Im doing pretty good for a dead man." But with prolonged life the around-the-clock cares he needed were more than my wife and I and others in the family could sustain. About 6 weeks ago he moved to the Legacy House of Spanish Fork assisted living facility. This is the same location where his wifes sister Karen and her husband Clyde are currently living. He made many other friends there who were also sad he only stuck around for a few weeks. They enjoyed his jokes, his smile, and the musical entertainment he loved to provide. He enjoyed the church services at the facility and the Book of Mormon classes. He was happy living at Legacy House. He often complimented the food. Lees daily life included many hours thinking about being with mom (Leah) who passed almost 6 years ago. He would regularly try to talk to her. For months while preparing for bed, with no regrets but feeling lonely, he would talk to himself listing his accomplishments, and then wish he could fall asleep and not wake up. But he never believed he would get his wish that night. Monday and Tuesday this week were very active days for him having the freedom that came with a new portable oxygen concentrator. He went out with me and some friends for pizza lunch on Monday. On Tuesday he played Bingo and won a game. He had phone calls from family. He seemed to be having good days. With the portable concentrator, he apparently felt he could finally get some things done late Tuesday and was up and about in his room. Facility staff came to check on him around 11:30pm and found him dead, still warm, laying on the floor by his computer. When I arrived, about an hour later, he had been lifted up onto a bed. He looked so peaceful. I believe the switch finally turned off for him, letting him pass without pain or trauma. All involved in his care knew he could die at any time, but we were still caught off guard by his passing on Tuesday. At the same time, we feel peace that he is with Leah. Im trying to image what that reunion with mom was like. What did they say? How did they look to each other? How long was the embrace before he looked around to see who else was there? What was it like greeting his older sister who died years before he was born? Who else stood in that initial reception line? I know he is finally back with mom whom we all love so deeply. His funeral in Springville, Utah will be at 11 am (Mountain Time) on November 11th. (Thats just the way it all worked out.) We will have a video link for those who cannot be here in person. Following the funeral his body will be transported to Yakima Washington for interment next to mom on 14 November 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Terrace Heights Memorial Park (3001 Terrace Heights Drive Yakima, WA 98901) While sad and sometimes having wet in the eyes, this is actually a time of joy knowing he completed his mortal probation; an incredible life trying to do the best he could. I hope you all can find joy in your days facing the test assigned to you. - Larry +++++++++++++ As more funeral plans are confirmed, they will be posted on this page including the link to watch his memorial service in Springville Utah at 11:00 a.m. on 11 November 2023. Visitation Hobble Creek Stake Center Saturday, November 11, 2023 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM 495 S. Canyon Rd Springville, Utah Funeral Service Hobble Creek Stake Center Saturday, November 11, 2023 11:00 AM 495 S. Canyon Rd Springville, UT Graveside Service Terrace Heights Memorial Park Tuesday, November 14, 2023 10:00 AM 3001 Terrace Heights Dr. Yakima, WA 98901