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Arvan Rodney Leany

Image of Arvan Leany
Birth Date: October 26, 1934
Death Date: October 25, 2017
Age at Death: 82
Veteran Of: U. S. Navy

Marriages

Donetta Burrows - June 13, 1956

In Salt Lake City, Utah

Burial Details

Cemetery Name: Elmwood Cemetery
Cemetery Location: Fruita, Colorado
Mortuary Name: Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, Grand Junction, Colorado

Obituaries

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - October 29, 2017

After a long and courageous
struggle with cancer, Arvan
Rodney Leany passed away
peacefully at the HopeWest
Care Center on Wednesday,
October 25th. He missed 83
by 14 hours.
Arvan was born October 26,
1934, in St. George, Utah, to
Rodney William and Glenna
Maud Leany. He attended Basic
Elementary and Basic High School in Henderson, Nevada.
At age 17, he joined the Navy and he was honored to have
served his country all three years, three months, three days and
11 hours. After discharge from the Navy, Arvan worked at
Nellis Air Force Base as a hydraulic mechanic. He then attended
beauty school and became a hair dresser and his first employment
was at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas.
It was at this time that Arvan was smitten by the lovely
Donetta Burrows of Spanish Fork, Utah. After a whirlwind courtship
and a six week engagement, they were married in the LDS
Salt Lake Temple on June 13, 1956, and recently celebrated
their 61st anniversary. They raised four children, Jeff, James
"Jim", Melisa and Tori.
Arvan opened his first beauty salon, Arvin’s Harem, in Henderson,
Nevada, then in 1969, he began a new career in food business
and went to work for Kentucky Fried Chicken. He spent
the next two years opening a new concept of fish and chip restaurants
which resulted in the family moving several times to San
Jose, Albuquerque, San Antonio, San Diego and then back to
San Antonio. He left Kentucky Fried Chicken and moved the
family to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he and his wife opened a
partnership, an ice cream parlor called the Elephant Walk, and
worked it for two years. After that venture he began working for
Sambos with his wife, Donetta, which brought him to Grand
Junction managing the restaurant, where Denny’s is now located
on Horizon Drive. In 1980 Arvan and Donetta relocated to Denver
to open Boones Biscuits and Chicken. In 1986, he returned
to Grand Junction and worked with his wife and two sons in the
family business of Starvin Arvin’s, eventually opening restaurants
in Grand Junction, Fruita, Clifton, Delta and Montrose.
Arvan loved greeting patrons in his restaurants and usually met
them with a warm “Hi, Kids!” Arvan was never short of jokes
and never met a stranger and was kind and friendly to everyone
he met, he was loved by everyone that met him. He truly
showed charity to all of his fellowman and walked a Christ like
life.
Arvan and Donetta were active members of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in many responsible
positions and in 2007 he and Donetta served a 12 month mission
in Kane, PA where they were loved and gave of themselves in
the service of the people there.
Arvan is survived by his wife, Donetta, and four children, Jeff
(Tonja), James (Debra), Melisa (Steve) Hart, and Tori (Gary)
Bowersock; his brother, Lloyd, of St. George, Utah, and 13
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two
brothers.
Funeral services will be held November 4, 2017, at the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel located at 2542 G
Road. The service will be at 11:00 a.m. There will be two
viewings, Friday, November 3rd at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary,
2515 Patterson Rd., from 6 - 7:30 p.m., then Saturday at 9:00 a.
m. at the church before the funeral. Afterwards Arvan will be
buried and receive his military farewell in the Elmwood Cemetery,
1175 17 ¼ Road, Fruita, CO.
It has been said that no man need fear death; he need fear only
that he may die without having known his greatest power; the
power of his free will to give of his life to others. Certainly this
describes the life of Arvan Leany. Arvan’s life was one of service
and love that he joyously shared with any and all he met and
he leaves behind a legacy of kindness and friendship that will
not soon be forgotten.
Those that wish to send flowers, in lieu of this, please consider
making in a contribution to HopeWest, the Hospice Center that
gave loving care to Arvan his last month and a half here. They
are a wonderful organization filled with an amazing caring staff.
Thank you, the Leany family.

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