May 8, 1926-Nov. 11, 2022
Cleopha Gubler LeBaron, daughter of Edmund and Eliza Anna Hafen Gubler, was born May 8, 1926, in Santa Clara, Utah. She died at home of natural causes on Nov. 11, 2022.
Cleopha was a young child during the Great Depression and lived through World War II. She had a happy childhood. She also always had chores and responsibilities. At a young age, Cleopha learned the value of hard work and the joy of growing a garden, an activity she continued throughout her life, providing an abundance of fresh produce for her family.
Once her children were in school, she worked for the City of Hurricane as recorder, treasurer and as the Hurricane Canal secretary. During this time, she attended night classes at college. She earned her bachelor’s degree and teaching credential from Southern Utah State College in Cedar City at the age of 52, followed by her master’s degree four years later. She taught kindergarten and second grade at Hurricane Elementary.
Cleopha employed her creative talents as well as her skills of playing piano, guitar, and ukulele in her teaching profession. Her Kindergarten Graduation programs were legendary. She taught all her second graders how to play the ukulele also. Cleopha had always loved school and was very happy teaching. She was respected and loved by colleagues and students alike.
Cleopha’s talents and hobbies included sewing, gardening, crocheting and knitting. She was the family barber. She was also very independent and learned to lay carpet, do woodwork, including cabinet making, sew upholsters, including car interiors, make drapes and sew clothing better than “store-bought.”. Cleopha also had a love of travel, visiting many of the 50 states and 25 countries.
When Cleopha turned 90 years old, her family celebrated with a temple session, followed by family pictures and a picnic at a local park, where she was presented with the gift of a new bike. She surprised and delighted everyone when she got on the bike and rode it around the pavilion where her adoring family were seated.
Cleopha met her husband, John LeBaron, in spring 1943. They were married June 30, 1944, in Pioche, Nevada. Their marriage was later solemnized in the St. George Temple. They settled in Hurricane in 1948, where they raised seven children: Ronald (Mary), Renae Thompson (Carl), Craig, Gai McArthur (Sam), Jane McKinlay (Jaymes), Russell (Jennifer) and Edmund (Shannon). She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, her brother Darwin and sisters Vanola Wittwer, Wilma Gubler, Jewell Frei and Linna Rosenlof. She is survived by all her children, her sisters Edna Hunt, Fawn Mitchell and Reta Hansen, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Cleopha had a strong testimony of her Savior and was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served many callings, beginning at age 12 playing the piano for Primary and continuing over the years, serving in the Primary, YWMIA (where she earned her Golden Gleaner Award) and Relief Society Presidencies. She also served at the St. George Temple for over 23 years. She served the local community as a 4-H and Cub Scout leader.
Cleopha was an amazing woman who tried to faithfully follow the teachings of her Savior by living the two great commandments: “to love God and my fellow man.”
Funeral services will be Saturday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m., at the Hurricane 9th Ward Chapel, 274 South 100 West, Hurricane. A viewing will be held Friday, Nov. 18, from 6-8 p.m. at Spilsbury Mortuary Hurricane Valley, 25 North 2000 West, Hurricane, Utah, and from 9:30-10:30 am at the chapel prior to services on Saturday. Internment will be in the Hurricane City Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S Bluff St., St. George, 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Cleopha’s online guest book.