Afton LeJoyce Mitchell Bailey

Afton LeJoyce Mitchell Bailey, age 84, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2026, at Sagewood at Daybreak Assisted Living.

LeJoyce was born to John LeRoy Jr and Afton Davis Mitchell in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 6, 1942. She was the third of six children. From an early age, LeJoyce developed a strong work ethic, a creative mind, and an adventurous spirit. A self-described "tomboy," she loved spending her childhood outdoors exploring and creating adventures. LeJoyce graduated from Highland High School in Salt Lake City in June 1960. It was while in High School that she (age 15) met Thomas Albert Bailey (age 17). Soon after meeting, they began to court each other and their love grew as the years went on. Their relationship became long distance when Tom joined the Navy. While Tom was serving his country across the world, LeJoyce wrote to him every day. Not long after he returned, Lejoyce married Tom in the Salt Lake Temple on February 15, 1962. Together they made their home in Draper, Utah, where they raised their four beloved children. In 2005, they moved to Herriman, where they spent the remainder of their lives together.

LeJoyce's life was defined by her remarkable talents, keen business sense, steadfast discipleship to Jesus Christ, and unwavering devotion to her family.

Gifted with both creativity and determination, she excelled in ceramics, porcelain artistry, sewing, embroidery, and family history. She taught ceramics classes to neighbors, helping many create beautiful works of art while sharing her enthusiasm for the craft. Her porcelain dolls were especially admired for their intricate lace dresses and delicately crafted ringlets. In fact, she was the first person in the area to discover how to create those signature porcelain ringlets—a testament to her inventive nature and willingness to solve problems others had not. Her creativity extended beyond porcelain dolls. Using a variety of porcelain molds, she created special projects for her grandchildren to paint and enjoy together. While raising her family, she lovingly sewed clothing for her children and even made dresses for her daughters during their high school years. She also found joy in embroidering beautiful linens that became treasured gifts for family members. Family history held a particularly special place in her heart. Countless hours were devoted to researching her ancestors, preserving their stories, and ensuring that future generations would know where they came from. She was equally dedicated to recording her own life experiences and

sharing them with her descendants. One of her greatest hopes was that her children and grandchildren would also preserve their own stories for generations to come.

In addition to her artistic talents, LeJoyce possessed an exceptional mind for business. She found success as a dental office manager, where she recognized that dentists could work more efficiently with a better system for organizing patient information. Acting on that insight, she founded Le Corp. and developed a paper-based patient management system that functioned much like today's customer relationship management software. Her innovative system was adopted by numerous dental offices throughout the area and remained in use for many years.

Faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of LeJoyce's life. After being baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 12, 1951, she remained a devoted disciple throughout her life. She faithfully served in many callings, including Relief Society president, Young Women president, Sunday School teacher, Primary teacher, and compassionate service leader. She loved the Savior and found great joy in serving both Him and those around her.

Nothing brought LeJoyce greater happiness than her family. During the summers, she planned educational excursions that combined learning with adventure for her children. Christmas was especially dear to her, and she delighted in hosting elaborate Christmas Eve celebrations filled with homemade treats, festive crafts, dancing to "Tony Chestnut," and cherished family traditions. She also organized girls' trips with her granddaughters, family reunions, and countless opportunities for loved ones to gather. Through her example, she taught her family what genuine love looks and feels like. Her influence will continue to bless generations, and her memory will forever be cherished.

LeJoyce is survived by her four children: Michael (Michelle) Bailey, Tauna (Matt) Kesler, Erick (Anita) Bailey, and Benette (Rob) Galloway; 16 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, John Mitchell, and her sisters, Kathy Terrell and Lynda Goeckeritz.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Tom; her parents, John LeRoy Jr. and Afton Mitchell; and her sisters, Lorraine Hansen and Marlyn Monahan.

A viewing will be held on Friday, August 14, 2026, beginning at 12:30 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. at Mountain View Memorial Cemetery in Sandy, Utah.