Lee Glade Holmstead, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Sunday, February 16, 2025, in the dream home he built in Spring City, Utah. His loving wife and best friend, Mary Holmstead, was by his side, along with his loved ones.
Born on May 15, 1936 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Merlin S. Holmstead and Afton Iverson, Lee spent most of his life in Draper, where he built a legacy of hard work, love, and service. He attended Draper Junior High and remained close to his classmates, attending yearly reunions even up until last year.
Lee married his high school sweetheart, Carroll Nunley, and together they shared 52 wonderful years before her passing in 2007. Their union brought five children,18 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren, all of whom he was protective of and cherished. In 2010, Lee found love again with Mary Allred, and together they built a beautiful life, blending their families and enjoying countless adventures. They worked side by side, often finishing each other’s sentences, always taking care of one another and their shared family.
A man of faith and service, Lee dedicated much of his life to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in numerous callings, including scoutmaster, cubmaster (earning the affectionate title “Mr. Lee Sir” from his cub scouts), stake missionary, temple ordinance worker, and as a member of the bishopric at the Draper prison. His sense of duty extended beyond his faith, as he also proudly served in the National Guard.
Lee had a passion for building—both homes and memories. He constructed his family home in Draper, built a shoe-shaped house (from the Mother Goose nursery rhyme) for a friend in Bear Lake, Idaho, where he spent many summers with his family. His crowning achievement was the dream home he built at Pigeon Hollow, where he spent the last 25 years of his life.
An avid outdoorsman, Lee found joy in horseback riding, hiking, shooting, snowmobiling, boating, waterskiing, and four-wheeling. He and Carroll also loved square dancing, twirling across the floor with friends and family.
A true jack-of-all-trades, Lee’s professional life was as varied as it was impressive. He worked as a building inspector for Draper City, a zoning commissioner for Sanpete County, a commercial real estate agent, a lineman for Utah Power and Light, a home builder and contractor, an audio-visual technician and business owner, and a high-speed camera technician and manager at Cordin Company. He even attended trade school for electronics, always striving to learn and improve his skills.
Lee is survived by his loving wife Mary, and his children and their spouses: LeAnn (Don) Payne of Lehi; Dinah (Ritchie) Svedin of West Jordan; Kendell (Janae) Holmstead of Draper; Byron (Jan) Holmstead of Arlington, WA; and Julie (Chris) Hirschi of Salt Lake City. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Carroll Nunley Holmstead, his parents, and his brother, Roy Holmstead.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 21, at 11:00 a.m. at the Spring City Chapel, 164 S. Main. A viewing will precede the service from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, Lee requested donations be made to Primary Children's Hospital.
Lee leaves behind a legacy of love, dedication, and adventure. He will be sorely missed but remembered by all who knew him.