LeRoi Nelson

Kay LeRoi Nelson, 99, passed away Friday, January 16, 2026. He was born at home on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1926, in Richmond, Cache County, Utah, to Parley LeRoi Nelson and Margaret Etna Peterson. He was the oldest in the family, with two younger sisters, Louise Nelson Hyer and Narene Nelson Ireland.
As a boy, he moved with his family to South Dakota and grew up on the broad prairie near the Missouri River. He attended a one-room school for eight grades and later graduated from Todd County High School in 1943, in a class of 28. He loved fishing on the Missouri River and the wide horizons—and later the mountains that became his beloved home.
He attended Utah State Agricultural College for one year before joining the Army Air Force. After returning to Utah State to study chemistry, he joined the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, served as house manager, and attended the LDS Institute. In the spring of 1947, he applied for a job as business manager of the college yearbook and met Ina Shepherd, who already held the position. He walked her home for their first “date,” got the job, and quickly found something better than employment: a lifelong teammate. They were married four months later in the Salt Lake Temple on September 4, 1947, and graduated together in 1948.
LeRoi earned a PhD in Organic Chemistry at Purdue University in 1952, completed postdoctoral research at UCLA, and served on the faculty at Wayne State University in Detroit. He joined the faculty at Brigham Young University in January 1956, where he taught Organic Chemistry for 35 years and served as chairman of the BYU Chemistry Department from 1968 to 1971. He helped design the BYU Nicholes Building. He and Ina were true-blue Cougar fans, happily cheering during the football games and basketball season together.
He loved the challenge of teaching and worked to make learning effective and engaging. He wrote several laboratory texts, published research in national chemical journals, and contributed chapters to chemistry books. He viewed education as a gift meant to be shared, preparing many doctors and dentists—some of whom later treated him in his later years. He still graded them: “You get a B today,” or “That shot was an A.”
Oregon State University benefited from his work during a sabbatical leave from BYU. At a later time, he arranged to travel by motorhome with his family through 39 states, visiting and lecturing at 21 universities. By 1996, the family had visited all 50 states. He also redesigned the computer database at the Thermodynamics Research Center at Texas A&M University. LeRoi was among the first to purchase Macintosh computers and continued working, learning, and adapting to new technology throughout his life, owning many computers and writing his life history in his advanced years.
LeRoi and Ina built a life of faith, family, and steady service. In 1957, he designed and supervised construction of their home in Oak Hills, above the site where the Provo Temple was later built. In 1966, after years of searching the canyons, they purchased land near Sundance and named it “Nirvana”—an idyllic place where heaven was found on earth. LeRoi and his father built many things together there, including a bridge and an A-frame cabin. LeRoi later built a retirement home on the property. Then, in his later years, he designed a three-story chalet for the expanding family. Over decades, Nirvana became a gathering place where he designed, built, improved, and created.
LeRoi was deeply proud of his children and grandchildren. He was steady and devoted, investing time to support them in their school, church, personal, and professional pursuits. Through this consistent involvement, he built strong, lasting family traditions and memories, often centered around working together. He and Ina helped initiate Special Education in the Provo City School District and later built Deseret Village in Spanish Fork, a home for adults with disabilities. LeRoi especially enjoyed time spent with his father, including hunting ducks, pheasants, and deer.
LeRoi and Ina later became snowbirds, spending winters in St. George. He loved nature and never tired of hiking and camping, adapting easily to the unique beauty of southern Utah’s red rock cliffs. He loved simply observing the world. He was deeply grateful for the gift of sight and loved reading as a way to continue learning. In March 2024, LeRoi moved to Treeo Retirement Center in Orem, Utah, where he enjoyed new friendships and activities.
LeRoi was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many callings throughout his life, including Branch President of the Purdue Branch and later at Wildwood in Provo Canyon. He served as Superintendent of the original BYU Stake YMMIA and cherished nine years as a bishop, caring for BYU students during formative seasons of their lives. He loved teaching youth and adults and especially enjoyed serving as Young Men’s President and Scoutmaster. He also served for sixteen years as a volunteer fireman at Sundance, training regularly while living in Provo Canyon. LeRoi had a firm faith in God, was patient, had an optimistic view of the future, and a deep love for the people and places he served.
Ina Shepherd Nelson (January 27, 1926 – March 19, 2016) was born in Paris, Idaho, and later lived in Logan, Utah, where she attended Utah State. Her life was marked by compassionate, quiet service, and together they found joy in family, faith, and friendships. Their story began with a yearbook job but grew into a partnership marked by working, serving, and loving people side by side. Ina once shared, “I love to cook.” Without missing a beat, LeRoi chimed in, “And I love the cook.”
LeRoi lived his life in profound, intentional, and meaningful ways. He loved to work hard from the time he was young. He developed many talents and had unique capabilities he utilized to be self-sufficient and bless others. Every minute was valued and appreciated. His accomplishments were many, yet he remained humble and tender, living life fully and enjoying healthy longevity. The people in his life mattered greatly to LeRoi, and he carried a deep appreciation for each relationship he was blessed to have. Thank you for being part of his life and for your love and support.
LeRoi was preceded in death by his wife, Ina; four children: Marlene, Alan LeRoi, Ronald Leslie, and Harold Lynn; parents; and sister, Louise. He is survived by a daughter, Karalee (David) Metcalf; a son, David LeRoi (Kayleen Penrod) Nelson; ten grandchildren—Brian (Sharianna) Metcalf, Jamielyn (Deric) Nye, Michelle (Erik) Wilson, and Scott (Cheyenne) Metcalf; Kristin (Skylar) Brown, Matthew Nelson, Mitchel (Rachel) Nelson, Rachelle (Cole) Liddiard, Jarrett Nelson, and Mckay Nelson; and twenty-eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Narene.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 N University Ave, Provo, Utah 84604. A visitation will be held from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m., followed by the funeral from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Interment will take place at 3:00 p.m. at the Logan City Cemetery.
LeRoi planned his funeral and chose his epitaph:
“With malice toward none.”