In Memory of Leon M Esplin

The Sunday that we headed back from Virginia we received some very sad news.  My grandfather, Leon Esplin, had passed away.  He will always be remembered as a fighter, someone who never gave up! He was fighting until the very end!

My Grandpa has been battling cancer for a few years now. Things would look good and then things wouldn't.  Earlier this year Grandpa went down to Salt Lake to have part of a tumor removed from his spine.  He was released from the hospital and came home.  One night Grandma noticed that the incision looked infected and took him the ER at EIRMC.  He was then life flighted to Salt Lake.  In Salt Lake they told him he had MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus), a bacteria that is resistant to almost all antibiotics.  Since the bacteria was in his spine, brain, and heart there weren't any antibiotics that they could give him.  He was sent home to await his passing.  All of his children came to see him.  His body seemed to overcome the infection in his heart but he was unable to fight off the infection in his nervous system.

I wish that I could have been there and seen him one last time.  The last time that I saw him was last year when we were in Idaho.  Last summer he farmed his farm and moved pipe.  I am not sure if it has sunk in that he is gone.  I am glad that we named Christopher after my grandfather and I hope that he can live up to the name that he carries.

In Loving Memory of

Leon M. Esplin

Leon M. Esplin, 78, of Basalt, passed away at home on April 3, 2011.

Leon was born July 15, 1932 in Shelley, Idaho to Marion and Voilet Mitchell Esplin.  He grew up and attended schools in Shelley and Firth.

Leon was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

On February 3, 1956 he married Leola May in the Idaho Falls Temple.

He is survived by his spouse, Leola of Basalt; his seven children, David (Angie) Esplin of Firth; Darin (Grace) Esplin of Diamond Bar, California; Diane (Leroy) Christensen of Rose; Delyn (Shelley) Esplin of Farr West, Utah; Deana (Hap) Johnson of Jackson, Wyoming; Debbie (Ross) Harris of Grace; Kent (Betty) Esplin of Roy, Utah; 31 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, and his sister, Marilyn (Merlyn) Jolley of Firth.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and one grandson, Eric Esplin.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday April 8, 2011 at the Firth Stake Center (823 North 675 East) in Basalt. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 till 8:00 P.M. at Nalder Funeral Home (110 West Oak) in Shelley and Friday 10:00 till 10:45 A.M. before the services at the church.  Interment will be in the Shelley Hillcrest Cemetery.