Maynard Lee Ericksen

Maynard Lee Ericksen was born on December 20, 1933, to Clarence Ericksen and Mary Fuller Ericksen, and died peacefully on his 90th birthday, December 20, 2023, surrounded by family. He grew up in the Salt Lake City area as one of seven children in his family. He joined the Army when he was 16 years old and was stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, but two years later, the Army found out that he was underage, so they kicked him out before he turned 18.

After the military, Lee worked at the Morton Salt Company for about 5 years while also doing automotive repair as a side job. Eventually, he opened his own shop, Lee’s Auto, which he ran until he retired. Lee had many dogs that he kept at his garage, but two of his favorites were his St. Bernards, King and George. Lee helped numerous people at the garage, and if he would have charged everyone he helped, he would have likely died a millionaire.

Around the year 2000, he retired and sold Lee’s Auto, but he really never quit working. He continued to help many people, and he enjoyed tinkering in his garage.

When Lee wasn’t helping others fix their cars, he loved fishing, spending time with his grandkids, watching westerns and war movies, listening to country music, and watching wrestling, otherwise known as “wrasslin’.”

Lee and Jeannine met in Salt Lake City and were married in Elko, Nevada, on May 28, 1975. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. Lee and Jeannine spent the majority of their lives living in Salt Lake City, then they moved to Southern Utah in 2018. They often said that they wish they had moved sooner. They were married for 48 years.

Lee held numerous callings in the church, but he enjoyed serving at the Salt Lake Temple the most.

Lee is survived by his wife, Jeannine, his children from a previous marriage, Doug and Mary Ann, and Jeannine’s children, who he considered his own: Jeff, David (Catherine), Jim (Amber), Rick (Robyn), Ellie (Dave), Patty, Alan, Becky (Lorin), and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Mary Ericksen, and his children, David (LeOra, who is still living), Margie, and Shawna.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Thursday, December 28, at the LDS chapel located at 452 North 2600 West, Hurricane, Utah. The viewing will be held the same day between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. in the relief society room at the chapel. For those unable to join us in person, a Zoom link will be provided. Interment will take place at the Hurricane City Cemetery.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 S. Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. 435-673-2454. Family and friends are invited to sign Lee’s online guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com