Lea Margaret Larsen

Lea was born October 19, 1941 to newlyweds Justus James Waddell and Leola May Connelley in what would become Sylmar, California just a few years later. Though Justus (Jud) was not a member and Leola (Lee) was inactive, they chose to have their daughter given a name and a blessing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on what would become known as Pearl Harbor Day. The name they chose came from Leola, her mother and her mother’s best friend, Margaret.

Jud had registered for the draft in 1940 at the government’s request, but he was protected from military service in WWII because he worked for Douglas Aircraft Company in a key position. Their family grew and by December 1951, they had four children and another on the way when Jimmie was killed as he walked home from school. This affected Lea profoundly and to the end of her life she regretted choices she made that day.

Lea struggled in school with what would later be recognized as a learning disability. It made reading and focus difficult, but she would find her way around it by climbing trees and reading in the branches which formulated a lifelong love for reading and trees. She also discovered a love for music and singing. Her high school stories at San Fernando High School are full of assemblies and musical events. During her Senior year, she got to work with the rising star Ritchie Valens who attended her school. She loved swing dancing and the popular music of the late 1950s. She graduated in 1959 and became the first in her family to go to college. She attended Brigham Young University as a music major. She described herself as woefully unprepared for college, but worked hard.

While at BYU she became part of Opera Workshop. Her beautiful soprano voice put her on stage often. She met Paul Gene Larsen there and they became close friends. They married in August of 1967 and she began teaching at Dixon Middle School in Provo, Utah. She taught there for two years.

On May 11, 1969, Mother’s Day, their first child was born, Karalee. Cody Joseph followed in October of 1970 and Margene (called Genie) in March of 1972. In 1974 they bought a house on 400 East in Orem, Utah. As her family grew, Lea helped to supplement her family’s income by teaching voice lessons. She shared her voice in ward and stake choirs, solos, and community theater often. Her children grew up loving music and her voice. Just after Thanksgiving 1977 Paul Christian (Lars) was born.

Lea was a determined advocate for her children. Cody and Karalee both had trouble learning and she did all she could to help them become more successful in school. This led her to recertify as a special education teacher in the early 1980’s and she dedicated her life to helping kids with disabilities. Lea began teaching resource at Spanish Fork Junior High School. She loved to teach reading and developed an extensive classroom library. In 1990 the family moved to Las Vegas to the Palmherst Ward. Lea taught at Indian Springs School for the rest of her career from 1990 to 2011.

After she retired she and Paul served a service mission where they developed the San Miguel Community Garden. She was a devoted and loving grandmother, visiting often, even before she retired. Her grandchildren remember her love of reading, especially Harry Potter and Mrs. Polifax.

In 1991, Lea was diagnosed with breast cancer and survived it until 2010 when it metastasized into her left lung. Losing this part of her lung weakened her voice which she missed the rest of her life. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2018, and she fought that too until her dear Paul began his final illness in 2023.

Lea Margaret Waddell was preceded in death by her brother Justus James Waddell II, her mother Leola May Connelley Waddell, and her father Justus Jame Waddell and is survived by her siblings Carolyn Elaine Fullmer, Danni Waddell, Dawn Murchison, Janna Hatch, Nyla Tillery, and John Waddell. She is also survived by her children Karalee Larsen Pugmire (Spouse–Merrill Clark Pugmire), Cody Joseph Larsen (Spouse–Julie), Margene Larsen Barrett (Spouse–Justin Spencer Barrett), and Paul Christian Larsen (called Lars) (Spouse–Cristi). He is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren with one on the way.

A visitation for Lea will be held Friday, May 10, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 5160 W Lone Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130. A funeral service will occur Friday, May 10, 2024 at 10:00 AM at External Service Location, 5160 W Lone Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89130. A committal service will occur Friday, May 10, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 N Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131.

Lea will be laid to rest in Palm Northwest Cemetery, 6701 North Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89131; Garden of Eternal Life .