Leroy Allen Faunce

Leroy Allen LaFaunce ( Faunce ) age 72, left his family and loved ones to join Our Lord  Jesus Christ on Sunday December 13,2020. Leroy passed unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep, where he was the happiest with his loving, beautiful wife by his side.     

Leroy was born June 24, 1948, in Berryville, Arkansas, to William Valentine LaFaunce and Mary A. Lamb; the third of six children.

He graduated from Napa Valley High School, in Napa Valley, California in 1965 and  attended  College for two years before marrying Diane McMurray in 1968.

Leroy had 3 beautiful children while married to Diane: Lola, Leroy Jr. and James LaFaunce. After divorcing Diane he then later remarried in 1974 to Sandra Lee Triplett into which his “baby girl” was born, Kathleen LaFaunce and his youngest son, Steve LaFaunce. Leroy loved his children with all his heart and  his eyes would light up whenever he talked  about them or shared memories of them of when they were young, and his life as a father. Leroy was a loving, wonderful father and grandfather to all 13 grandchildren.

Leroy later divorced Sandra, packing up his belongings and all his children, leaving Missouri to raise his children as a single father and moved back to California. California was a hard place to raise kids all alone and being the protective “Papa Bear” that Leroy was, he moved himself and his children out of California to Idaho in search of a more peaceful, safe, and protective life for him and his kids.

Where he was also to meet the love of his life, Sally Irene Gonzales. Leroy and Sally met in 1995 while working at McCain Foods, in Burley, Idaho as co-workers and friends and later fell in love and married in 2001.

Leroy adored his wife Sally and loved her with an everlasting love, through the good times and the bad times, for better or for worse. Their love for one another was tried and tested as most marriages are and proven to be a one of a kind, once in a lifetime true love story. They were the very best of friends, enjoying each other’s company in whatever they did, they were inseparable, a gift to each other from The Lord. Leroy loved gardening with his “honey” and planting flowers everywhere around the house just for her. They were always thinking of one another, always taking great care of each other no matter the cost.

Leroy was not only a great husband and great father to his biological children, but also a wonderful, loving father to his step- children and step- grandchildren. Leroy loved all  of Sally’s kids as if they were his own. He always opened his heart and home to all 4 of Sally’s children and 16 grandchildren. Leroy loved being a good husband and a good father and a good man of God.

Leroy was a hard worker for whomever he was employed with and enjoyed  whatever job he did and did it well, with a smile on his face and love in his heart all the way to the end. Leroy was employed at McCain Foods from 1990 and retired in 2008 and became a school bus driver due to his love for children. Leroy also worked  driving truck for Transystems up until the day he left us to be in heaven with The Lord.

Leroy enjoyed riding his Harley most of his life, and loved the wind blowing through his hair and feeling free. He enjoyed all things that were outdoors on a beautiful, sunny day with all of his family. He enjoyed fishing or just taking a stroll around the block with his “Honey” on a warm summer’s eve or just teaching all his step-grandchildren how to drive. Leroy was a good family man, a diamond in the rough, and his departure has left a hole in so many hearts. Leroy will be greatly missed but we will soon meet again.

Leroy is survived  by his wife, Sally; daughter, Lola(Mike Purin) of Rupert; son, Leroy Jr. (Kathy) LaFaunce of Burley; son, James Lafaunce of Rupert; daughter, Kathleen (Tom Ruffell) of Sprinfield, Missouri; son, Steve LaFaunce of Springfield, Missouri; and 13 grandchildren.

Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers.

A viewing will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at Hansen Mortuary in Rupert.  The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Grace Community Church in Rupert. Services are under the direction of Joel Heward Hansen Mortuary.

To view the live stream of Leroy's service, please go to graceid.org/live

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