Dr. Leon Edwin Orme

Dr. Leon Edwin Orme passed away at his home on March 24th, 2023, at the age of 95. Leon was born February 20, 1928, in Provo Utah, the eldest child of Ellis Marshall and Ada Lucille Holdaway Orme. He grew up on his family’s farm in Tooele, Utah where he learned to ride horses during his youth. Some of his favorite memories were riding the trails of Middle and Settlement Canyons with his father and grandfather. Leon loved growing up in Tooele, where he said he learned the value of hard work.

After graduating from Tooele High School, Leon served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the San Francisco, California Mission, where he loved teaching the Native American people on the reservations in the Bay Area. Following his mission, Leon pursued higher education at Utah State University, where he graduated with a degree in Animal Science and, more importantly, where he met a beautiful “Aggie” girl, Mary Ann Maxfield. Leon and Mary Ann were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 11, 1952. Together they raised five children: Marcia, William, Stanford, Craig and Tracy. Their baby girl, Terri Ann, died shortly after birth. Leon and Mary Ann have nineteen grandchildren, and twenty-eight great grandchildren.

Following his graduation from Utah State University, Leon accepted an assistantship at the University of Tennessee, where he completed his master’s degree in Animal Science. He then continued his education at Michigan State University, where he obtained a PhD in Meat Science. After graduation, Leon became a professor of Animal Science at the University of Idaho where he taught for ten years. He then accepted a professor position in the Animal Science Department at Brigham Young University, where he continued teaching (until his retirement) and where he served as department head multiple times. During his 32 years as a BYU professor, he was a “true blue cougar” and enjoyed attending BYU football and basketball games.

Leon was a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ and he bore his testimony often to his posterity. Leon’s devotion and service to the Lord included callings as an early-morning seminary teacher, youth leader, and bishop (three times). Later in life, he served a mission with his beloved, eternal companion at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. Throughout his life, Leon hoped to instill a love of family in each of his large posterity. He shared stories of his ancestry often, including the ancestral significance of the Orme family livestock brand, “UF”, which stands for United Family. His posterity will always remember him as a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

Leon was a master teacher and he spent his lifetime teaching countless students. He served as a mentor and advisor to the Block and Bridle Club at BYU. He also took great pride in his livestock judging team and their many accomplishments. His lifelong legacy of service to youth was incomparable, and he was beloved by former students and colleagues who visited him well into his sunset years.

Leon never sought recognition for his accomplishments and service, but he was awarded many teaching accolades during his lifetime. Some noteworthy awards he received include: the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award at Brigham Young University, The American Meat Science Association Distinguished Teaching Award, The American Society of Animal Science Distinguished Teaching Award, and ASAS Fellow of Outstanding Contributions to the Livestock Industry from the American Society of Animal Science.

Leon is survived by his wife Mary Ann Orme; his children Marcia (John Hall), William (Susan), Stanford (Marian), Craig (Michelle Bugni), and Tracy; and grandchildren and great grandchildren who love him dearly. He is also survived by his brother Dr. Gilbert Orme (Carol). Leon was preceded in death by his parents, precious infant daughter Terri Ann, his little sister Naomi who died as a child, his sister Jeri (Monte) Stevens, and his granddaughters Emilee Orme and Kassidy Orme.

Leon will be greatly missed, until we meet again.

Funeral services were held Friday, March 31, 2023. Condolences to family and webcast of service may be viewed at www.walkersanderson.com.