LeRoy Nile Buhler

LeRoy Nile Buhler, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, and ultimate lifelong BYU Cougar fan, passed away abruptly from gastric cancer on January 5, 2023, surrounded by many of his posterity. Immediately following the “amen” and conclusion of a family prayer offered on his behalf, the family experienced a tender mercy as LeRoy took his final breath and was released from this mortal existence after living a very full and wonderful life for 88 years.

LeRoy was born in Lindon, Utah on July 20, 1934, to Emery Grant Buhler and Lynile Ash and had a happy childhood growing up. He loved being the oldest of his three other siblings. In 1952, he graduated from Vale High School in Oregon, attended Boise Junior College, then enlisted in the Navy shortly thereafter and completed basic training. Before going into active service, he received a mission call to serve The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England from 1953 to 1955. 
Following his mission, he attended Brigham Young University and was recruited by President David O. McKay as the first returned missionary to play football and baseball for BYU. He graduated from BYU in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science in Medicine degree with a composite major in physical therapy. LeRoy was accepted to Herman’s Hospital in Texas as an intern but chose to go into coaching and education instead. 

LeRoy married Ruth Rose Nielson in 1958 and they had six children from 1959 to 1974 and then later divorced. 

On November 5, 1975, LeRoy and his sweetheart Alice G. Stockton were married and later sealed in the Ogden, Utah temple on their first wedding anniversary. A family of ten children was realized from this union.

LeRoy's full-time employment included working as an athletic coach, public school teacher, and vocational counselor in education. He enjoyed teaching and always went out of his way to help others. He genuinely loved people and spent lots of time getting to know them. Because of his love and skill in making connections with others, after retirement he worked various part-time jobs and participated in multiple business ventures in which he took interest and pursued over many years. Numerous personal and meaningful friendships were developed during his lifetime. LeRoy was a friend to so many people and exuded open friendship to those he knew and even those he did not know.

Always active in the LDS Church and having served in numerous callings, LeRoy later served an 18-month Church Educational Service (CES) mission together with Alice from 1998 to 2000 in Indiana. They really enjoyed helping, teaching, and serving those students in that part of the Lord's vineyard.

We will miss LeRoy’s greeting “growl” and hearing him share stories and tales of his golfing, fishing, and hunting experiences, listening to his solid counsel, insight, and perspective about life, as well as seeing his excitement for everything BYU-related. His enthusiasm for the gospel of Jesus Christ and his love for the Book of Mormon will also be missed. 

LeRoy had a rich eternal posterity and is survived by his beautiful wife, Alice, and ten children, Ann (Bryon) Richey, Lynn (Kelly) Nebeker, Steve Buhler, Teresa Yorgason, Owen (Linda) Stockton, Brenda Hadley, Debbie Hansen, R.J. (Wendy) Buhler, Valerie (Ty) Lofswold, and Kristina (Robert) Johnson. At the time of his passing, LeRoy had 47 grandchildren and 123 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings Lyle Buhler and Joyce (Carl) Hamblin, one sister-in-law, Marie Buhler, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Gene Buhler.

LeRoy's viewing will be on Thursday, January 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Myers Mortuary, 250 N Fairfield Rd in Layton. Funeral services will be Friday, January 13, at the Kays Creek Ward Chapel, located at 2435 E Canyon Rim Drive, Layton, at 11 a.m. with a viewing prior from 9:30-10:30 a.m. interment will be at Layton Memorial Park. Where military honors will be accorded. 

The funeral service will be streamed live at 11 a.m. on Friday.

Please feel free to send flowers or plant a tree in memory of LeRoy Nile Buhler or donate to the LDS Church missionary fund.

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