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About Orpha Munson Spencer
Orpha Munson Spencer, 95, passed away October 12, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona. Orpha was born January 4, 1930 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Lewis Leo Munson and Hortense Cope Munson.
Orpha grew up in Escalante, Utah, graduating from Escalante High School. As a young woman, she excelled in school. She played the saxophone in a dance orchestra and worked in her father’s general store.
On May 3, 1949, Orpha married Crae Kemp Spencer in the Manti, Utah LDS Temple. They lived in Escalante as Kemp was a rancher there. Two of their five children were born during this time.
They moved to Cedar City, Utah, where Kemp worked for Tucker Coal Company and Orpha helped out working as a seamstress. Two more children were born in Cedar City. When the coal mines shut down, they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, where their youngest child was born.
They finally settled in Mesa, Arizona, where Kemp and two colleagues started a trucking business—RKW Trucking. Orpha continued her sewing business and even sewed for a bridal shop for a couple years.
Orpha was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various callings. She worked at the church’s Humanitarian Center in Mesa for many years.
Orpha will always be remembered for her love of sewing and especially for the many quilts she made for all her family, friends, and charitable organizations. She also loved to crochet and read, and was known for her homemade fudge and divinity. She made crafts and sewn items for holiday boutiques for many years. Her shop name was “Orpha’s Originals”.
Orpha is preceded in death by: her husband, Kemp; brothers Voyle and LoRell Munson; sisters LoRee Shurtz, Evelyn Lay, Lasca Woolsey, Vaunda Willis; grandson Kevin Spencer; granddaughter Jennifer Eaton; great-grandson Gunner Goodman.
Orpha is survived by five children: Donna Greco (Bruce) of Flagstaff, Arizona; Douglas (Connie); Brent (Pamela); Wayne (Debbie); Beth Berdene, all of Mesa, Arizona. Also: 20 grandchildren, 61 great- grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, two brothers, Lloyd and Howard Munson.
Funeral Services: Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Adobe Building)
745 N. Val Vista Rd.
Mesa, Arizona 85205
Viewing: Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
Mesa, Arizona 85205