Obituary for Leia Reneé Bryant (Zemanek)
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Leia Reneé Bryant (47) passed away peacefully on May 15, 2023 in Murray, UT while surrounded by her loved ones. Leia was welcomed into this world on August 17th, 1975 by her parents Saundra Lee Zemanek and Laurel LeRoy Spradlin in Torrance, California. She was later adopted by her stepfather, John Seely Zemanek Sr. after Saundra remarried her first sweetheart. Leia was known by the nickname “Leiatard” by her friends and family, as JZ gave every Zemanek a special nickname to go by.
In 1985 the Zemanek family relocated to Cedar City, UT, where Leia would spend the rest of her childhood. She graduated from Cedar High School alongside her friends, who she loved like family. She began her successful career with Delta Airlines shortly after, where she proudly worked for 25 years.
On March 18th, 1998 Leia welcomed her first daughter into the world, Makenna Renee Bryant. In December of that year, Leia and Makenna were on an airplane flight together and met Coy Bryant sitting with his son, Carter. Leia and Coy had their first date planned by the end of the flight, and the rest was history. Carter and Makenna joined their parents at their wedding in October of 1999. They moved to Draper, UT, where Leia and Coy would raise their children together.
On October 29, 2002 their youngest daughter, Payten Elyse, was born and completed the Bryant family. They loved taking adventures as a family through traveling to Disneyland, Hawaii, and more. Although Leia and Coy later divorced, they remained in each other's lives as friends.
Leia loved the outdoors and spent most of her spare time camping at Spruces, boating in Lake Powell, off-roading in her Jeep, or playing baseball with her family. She loved to share a box of See’s Candy with her mom who she loved dearly. Whether she was playing raunchy board games during family trips, showing her nieces and nephews how Vegas was “properly” done, or indulging in an In N’ Out Burger, Leia knew how to have a good time, poke fun, and make others laugh at themselves. Taking her loved ones to concerts to experience her love of music was also important to her. If there's one thing she will be remembered by, it will be that she made the most special memories together with her tribe.
Special thanks to her current sweetheart and fellow “Delta Family” member, Rob May, for staying by her side until the very end after spending 7 beautiful years of adventuring together.
Leia is survived by her two daughters, MaKenna Renee Bryant and Payten Elyse Bryant, and her 5 siblings Caren Cantu (Robert), Carla McGavin (Gary), Frank Zemanek (Lorrie), Lori Clark, Kristina Shuput (Allen) and her nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Saundra and John Zemanek Sr., her son Carter James Bryant, and her brothers Ron Zemanek and John Zemanek Jr.
Memorial services will be held Saturday May 20th, 2023 (at the East Bench Ward Chapel, located at 155 E 400 S Cedar City, UT) at 12:00 PM under the direction of Heartlight Affordable Funeral Services.
Condolences and memories of Leia can be posted online at affordablefuneralservices.com.
Leia Reneé Bryant (47) passed away peacefully on May 15, 2023 in Murray, UT while surrounded by her loved ones. Leia was welcomed into this world on August 17th, 1975 by her parents Saundra Lee Zemanek and Laurel LeRoy Spradlin in Torrance, California. She was later adopted by her stepfather, John Seely Zemanek Sr. after Saundra remarried her first sweetheart. Leia was known by the nickname “Leiatard” by her friends and family, as JZ gave every Zemanek a special nickname to go by.
In 1985 the Zemanek family relocated to Cedar City, UT, where Leia would spend the rest of her childhood. She graduated from Cedar High School alongside her friends, who she loved like family. She began her successful career with Delta Airlines shortly after, where she proudly worked for 25 years.
On March 18th, 1998 Leia welcomed her first daughter into the world, Makenna Renee Bryant. In December of that year, Leia and Makenna were on an airplane flight together and met Coy Bryant sitting with his son, Carter. Leia and Coy had their first date planned by the end of the flight, and the rest was history. Carter and Makenna joined their parents at their wedding in October of 1999. They moved to Draper, UT, where Leia and Coy would raise their children together.
On October 29, 2002 their youngest daughter, Payten Elyse, was born and completed the Bryant family. They loved taking adventures as a family through traveling to Disneyland, Hawaii, and more. Although Leia and Coy later divorced, they remained in each other's lives as friends.
Leia loved the outdoors and spent most of her spare time camping at Spruces, boating in Lake Powell, off-roading in her Jeep, or playing baseball with her family. She loved to share a box of See’s Candy with her mom who she loved dearly. Whether she was playing raunchy board games during family trips, showing her nieces and nephews how Vegas was “properly” done, or indulging in an In N’ Out Burger, Leia knew how to have a good time, poke fun, and make others laugh at themselves. Taking her loved ones to concerts to experience her love of music was also important to her. If there's one thing she will be remembered by, it will be that she made the most special memories together with her tribe.
Special thanks to her current sweetheart and fellow “Delta Family” member, Rob May, for staying by her side until the very end after spending 7 beautiful years of adventuring together.
Leia is survived by her two daughters, MaKenna Renee Bryant and Payten Elyse Bryant, and her 5 siblings Caren Cantu (Robert), Carla McGavin (Gary), Frank Zemanek (Lorrie), Lori Clark, Kristina Shuput (Allen) and her nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Saundra and John Zemanek Sr., her son Carter James Bryant, and her brothers Ron Zemanek and John Zemanek Jr.
Memorial services will be held Saturday May 20th, 2023 (at the East Bench Ward Chapel, located at 155 E 400 S Cedar City, UT) at 12:00 PM under the direction of Heartlight Affordable Funeral Services.
Condolences and memories of Leia can be posted online at affordablefuneralservices.com.