Christine Joyce Woodbury

Christine Joyce (Leavitt) Woodbury, Age 72, of St. George, Utah, passed away Tuesday the 15th of April, 2025. She was born July 13th , 1952 in Berkeley, CA to Bert J. Leavitt and Emma Joyce Hopkins. She married the love of her life, Larry Bruce Woodbury on June the 2nd , 1973 in the St. George UT Temple.

After some early years in the Bay Area, work required that her father Bert relocate. In 1959 Bert and Joyce moved their family to Las Vegas, NV. Chris spent the remainder of her childhood and teen years in the Las Vegas Valley where she graduated from Clark High School. Upon graduation, Chris continued her education at Southern Utah State College in Cedar City, Utah. She earned a bachelors degree in Early Childhood Development from SUSC in 1974. She also met Larry while attending SUSC and in June 1973 they were married and sealed in the St. George temple. In May 1974, Larry joined the United States Air Force and they reported to Williams Air Force Base, AZ to begin their life as a military family. Chris embraced the role of wife and military spouse. She enjoyed travel, new experiences and was always up for adventure. Larry’s Air Force career would take them to many amazing places and bring them a life of adventure.

Christine’s three greatest passions were loving the Lord and being a mother and wife. She was always bragging that her career was a Homemaker and that it was the most difficult but most rewarding job there is. In 1976 Christine was able to fulfill her lifelong dream to be a mother. Larry and Chris adopted their first of 5 children, Benjamin. Not too many months after that in 1978 they adopted their first beautiful daughter, Allison. The Air Force moved the young family every 3 years and at each of the first few stops, Chris and Larry were able to adopt and add to their family. From California to Ohio, where they brought Andrew home. Then on to Illinois where they added Melissa and then back to California where they brought home the baby of the family, Samuel.

With the family complete, the Air Force continued to send the family to different parts of the world, from England to different parts of the U.S. During the constant moving and new people and places, Christine always maintained a vigorous love for the Lord. She set the example and taught that love to her children and those around her.

Christine was a crafty and resourceful person. You could find her daily working on a quilting project, reading a book or hanging out with friends. She was a legendary quilter. Many friends and family members have at least one of her masterpiece quilts in their home keeping them warm during the colder months. She passed that passion and skill on to anyone who wanted to learn.

Chris was always up for a party. Especially if that party included family. She stressed the importance of family and fun in her everyday life. She was an absolute lover of the water. Any trip she took she insisted everyone pack swimsuit…just in case they had a chance to swim. She was up for a beach trip or pool party at any moment.

Upon Larry’s retirement from the Air Force, Larry and Chris homesteaded for the first time in their lives. They were able to grow roots in the O’Fallon, Illinois community for over 20 years. She served as a seminary instructor for several years, as well as serving in the YSA and was loved by so many of the young adults. She helped plan unique activities and many went to her for guidance. She was also given the blessing of helping organize tour activities of the St. Louis Temple open house and led many of those tours herself.

In the fall of 2017, they packed up their home and moved back to the city where they tied the knot: St. George, Utah. During their retired years Larry and Chris were blessed to serve a Southern Utah historic site mission in the St. George area. They were also blessed to serve in the St George temple as ordinance workers until it closed for renovations and they continued being ordinance workers after the temple reopened until she passed.

For the last 20 years of her life, Christine battled various cancers. She fought and beat colon and uterine cancer. In 2020 faced her biggest challenge when she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After rounds of treatment and a failed surgery attempt, she was given the sad prognosis of just weeks to live. The family was devastated and prayed endlessly for her and her health. Those prayers were answered, and Christine was able to receive a unique immunotherapy treatment that beat the cancer and kept her cancer free for over 5 years. Christine considered this the hand of God and thanked Him every day for the extra days, weeks and years.

She is survived by her loving husband, Larry of St. George Utah; her children, Benjamin (Lenzi), Allison, Andrew (Molly), Melissa, and Samuel (Jaana); her grandchildren Tayler (Chris), Tyson (Kristen), Trey (Mayra), Chandler, Spens, Brian, Kristen, Conner, Adalynn, Jayden, Grayson, Salia, Kya, Fae, and Lovai; her great grandchildren Khoi, Krue and Koah; her sister Janae (Keith), and brother Rod (Cindy) ; Carolyn (deceased brother Wade); Tarina (deceased brother Terry)

She is preceded in death by her father Bert, mother Joyce, brother Terry, sister Jilleen, brother Wade.

Funeral services will be Friday the 25th of April, 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Chapel located at 1068 W Chandler Drive, St. George, UT 84770. Friends and family may attend a viewing that day beginning at 9:30 a.m. with funeral services at 11:00 am. Interment will take place immediately following the services at the Tonaquint cemetery.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Hughes Mortuary, 1037 East 700 S., St. George, Utah (435) 647-5000.