Mary Lou Pexton

Our beautiful mother and lovely wife, Mary Lou Pexton, passed away in Heber City, Utah, at the Spring Gardens Memory Care facility on October 13, 2025.

Born January 22, 1945, in Oxford, Pennsylvania, to Bertha and Joe Lesley, Mary Lou was quickly and aptly nicknamed "LuLu" as she was the youngest and most mischievous of her three siblings, Hugh, Susan, and Joseph (Sem) Lesley. Raised on a beautiful and prosperous corn farm that later became a plantation for growing Christmas Trees, Mary Lou graduated from Solanco High School in 1962. The growing and marketing of Christmas Trees was an all-family activity for the Lesleys, with the annual selling of Christmas Trees between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays an intense time of accomplishment, and joy. Mary Lou also enjoyed working as a waitress in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, during the summers while attending high school.

After high school, Mary Lou earned an Associate Degree in Business from Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Delaware. She was employed at JC Penny Finance in Wilmington following her graduation. Always a traveler, Mary Lou journeyed to Geneva, Switzerland, with friends and liked it so much she accepted a position there at International General Electric. During her two years in Switzerland she traveled Europe with friends and family in her Austin Mini Cooper.

Following her return to the United States, she moved to California and accepted a position at United California Bank, working in their bond department in downtown Los Angeles. She was promoted to Assistant Cashier and later Assistant Vice President while working for the bank. She and good friends Marie Hansen and Judy Schaub lived in Manhattan Beach, then and now a favorite of young single people.

Mary Lou and Mike first met via telephone while both worked at the bank and were later introduced at a luncheon arranged by Mike's boss. Mike and Mary Lou were married in September of 1973 in Oxford, near the Christmas tree farm. In 1976 they welcomed their first child, Kelly Ann, and again in 1978 they were again blessed with the arrival of their son, Joseph Graeme, at their home in Hermosa Beach, California.

In 1981, at the time of the oil and gas boom, the family moved to Evanston with the formation of the Yellow Creek Ranch Company, a land development company owned by the Pexton and Hansen families. Mike and Mary Lou considered it a rewarding time and a great place to raise their young children.

Mary Lou became quickly involved in the social and civic fabric of Evanston in the early 1980s. Along with seven other families, she formed what was known as the Supper Club, a once a month gourmet-oriented pot luck dinner. In 1982 she co-chaired the first Evanston Urban Renewal Ball with Julie Lehman, which raised money for downtown revitalization. She continued her involvement with the Urban Renewal Ball for many years. She was active as a board member of the Uinta County Museum Board from 2005 to 2014 and started a fundraising effort called Hallowed by HIstory.

A lifelong bridge player, Mary Lou organized a bridge club, known to its players as "The Sub Club" that is now in its 40th year.

Always strong on detail, Mary Lou taught herself Quickbooks and functioned as the bookkeeper for the various family owned businesses. Mary Lou's love of music led her to create the Pegasus Records and Tapes store in the Yellow Creek Center. She successfully operated the store for 4 years, through the dawn of the CD. She was an avid golf player, skier, and always enjoyed knitting and needlepoint.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Mike Pexton, of Evanston, and sister Susan Derrickson of Lewes, DE; daughter Kelly Ann Kerr and son-in-law Kimber Kerr of Riverside Calif; son Joseph Graeme Pexton and daughter-in-law Kristina Pexton and two grandchildren, Will and Winnie Pexton, all of Severna Park Maryland.

Funeral services will be held Friday November 7, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Crandall Funeral Home followed by lunch at the Beeman-Cashin building on Front Street.

"In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to the Uinta County Museum at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-unita-county-museum-foundation"