Arva Marie (Lyells) Leishman

Arva Leishman, 97, was a caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She was loved by so many. She passed quietly Jan. 30, 2024 97 years old.

Arva was born Sept. 15, 1926, in Florence, Colo., to William Leonard Lyells and Nellie Marie (Wood) Lyells. She was the youngest of three siblings which included her brother, Bill, and sister Margie.

Arva's father passed away when she was 3 years old. Her mother moved their family to Eagle, Colo., where she graduated from high school. In 1944, her family moved to Ogden, Utah, where Arva met her future husband while working at the Army base. They married May 31, 1946, at Reno, Nev. They lived in Ogden for eight years. Their children, Richard, Lori and Chris, were all born in Ogden.

In 1954, they moved our family to Moses Lake where they purchased farmland. Debbie and Brent were born in Moses Lake. In the early 1980s, Arva and Arlo subdivided the farmland now known as "Parker Spring Acres," when he retired from farming.

Arva's husband, Arlo passed away May 9, 2012. They had been married for 66 years.

Arva is survived by her five children; Richard (Jamie), Lori Dexter (Dennis), Chris (Kathy), Debbie Harden (Cliff), and Brent (Ronda), as well as 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband Arlo and her grandson Ryan Harden.

There will be a graveside service held on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Guarding Angels Cemetery 2595 Road L NE, Moses Lake, Wash. 

Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements are under the care of Kayser's Chapel of Memories.