Della Mae Williams Leek

Della Mae Williams Leek, loving mother, devoted grandmother, and doting great grandmother, passed away June 28th, 2024. She was born in Denver, Colorado April 16, 1930 to Annie Rebecca Denison Williams and James Ralph Williams. Affectionately called Nanny, Della loved her family above all else. She met her husband Kenneth, a railroad engineer, in Thistle Utah. She and Kenneth moved to Salt Lake City after the Thistle flood of 1952. She loved to cook; her fried chicken, stuffed-green peppers, and shrimp curry were legendary. She made sewing an art, maintained an immaculate house, and excelled at mathematics. She had an amazing memory, able to recite poems and songs for any occasion. She loved country-western and Christmas music, car rides, diet cokes, and caramel frappuccinos with extra caramel drizzle and an additional shot of espresso. Asked on her death bed if she would watch the Presidential debate, she responded: “Can you afford a new TV?”

Passionate, headstrong, and feisty, she always rooted for the underdog. She would slip homeless people $5, make sandwiches for Kenneth to give to the homeless riding the rails, and always made sure her children, grandchildren, and the neighborhood children were fed. Her feminist leanings drove her to take driving lessons, get a job in retail, and demand an equal voice. She taught her children and grandchildren the importance of treating people with dignity and fairness, principles she carried throughout her life. Her legacy of kindness and compassion lives on in our hearts and actions. We miss you terribly, Nanny. We hope that you and Kenneth are reunited once more, together “just beyond the moon.” Love, your loving family. Della is survived by her sister Mary Kaye Drake of Seattle, Washington; daughters Linda (David) Openshaw of Dallas, Texas, and Sandra (John) Watkins of Salt Lake City, Utah; grandchildren Amy (Matt) Milstead, Alison (Ben) O’Barr, Lauren (Josh) Maxon, Patrick (Kaci) Openshaw, Lindsay Openshaw, Marcie (Max) Leek, Hailey (Kevin) Leek, and Katie (Gabriel) Watkins; and nine great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Leek, and her son Bruce (Steph) Leek.

Her immediate family will hold a private ceremony to celebrate Della’s life. In lieu of flowers please donate to St. Jude’s or Shriners Children’s hospital.