Michelle Roe

Michelle was born the sixth child of seven. Her full name is Leanna Michelle Richards Roe (One of her great great grandfathers is Willard Richards from early church history). She was named after a young girl her dad baptized while on his mission in Quebec. Their family stayed in contact with this girl a bit over the years.

Michelle was born into the royalty line of Holladay Utah, furniture royalty that is. Back in the day before online shopping, and RC Willey had taken the Wasatch front by storm, the place to buy your furniture was Granite Furniture. In fact it was the only place you could outfit your whole home. It was established in 1853 just a few years after Brigham Young led the saints to the Salt Lake Valley. Because her father is the president and CEO of the company, the furniture store was a central part of Michelle's life and continues to be a huge focus of her relationships with her parents and siblings.

Michelle's family was a blended family. Her mother had been previously married and brought 4 children into their marriage. In her first marriage, she lost a set of twins and had several miscarriages. She was able to have one child but the doctor told her she wouldn't be able to have any more, so she adopted a child, but then her womb seemed to open up and she didn't have a problem. However, even after she and Michelle's father married, she lost another set of twins. Because of the trials Michelle has watched her mother face, Michelle says her mom is a warrior. That she in an incredibly strong woman. Michelle looks up to her and is very close to her. She has had probably the greatest impact on Michelle's life out of anyone and Michelle says she is one of her best friends. Michelle is also very much a daddy's girl. She loves both her parents and is so grateful for their strong testimonies of the gospel and the spiritual strength they give her.

Michelle says her parents allowed her and her younger sibling to do whatever they wanted. Michelle says while growing up she tried everything. Hence she says she became a « jack of all trades, master of none. » However all this diversity did help her to become a well rounded individual. She tried tennis, horseback riding, dance, sewing, cooking, music including violin and piano and singing classes. She even was in the auto mechanic club at her high school. But she says she was in it for the easy A, not even to meet the boys!

Michelle says all throughout high school and College she had a clearly defined focus, to have fun and meet boys. It permeated many of the decisions she made. Including the paths she chose in college. She started her college years with a semester at Salt Lake Community College. Her dad let her know as long as she was going to college she wouldn't have to have a job. So after a semester at SLCC she transferred to USU. Her dad helped her get up there by registering her and even signing her up for her classes.

Well, Michelle was no fool. With her purpose in life in mind, she got up to USU and promptly dropped some of her classes so she wouldn't have more time for fun. It was up at USU that Michelle met her husband Mike. How you might ask. Well, no one knows. Anyhow, Michelle and Mike don't know. Neither of them remember how they met. Michelle thinks it might have been at a bon fire. Mike thinks it might have been at a birthday party. It clearly was not memorable, however what they do remember is that after meeting they quickly became best friends, best friends with some kissing benefits. Michelle says Mike is the most positive person she has ever known. That he is always happy and she was just drawn to him. She loved being around him.

But being exclusive with one person would get in the way of Michelle's focus. So exclusivity was out of the question. After a year however Mike was ready for more. He got up the courage and asked Michelle if they could start being exclusive. At first Michelle said no. She came home after their conversation and told her roommates. Her roommates looked at her like she was crazy. For two hours they talked to Michelle helping her realize that Mike was the greatest thing that ever happened to her and that someone better wasn't going to come along. She also remembered her patriarchal blessing had told her, « To choose good friends because her husband would be found among them. » So two hours after turning Mike down, she hunted him down and in true girl form, told him she had changed her mind. 2 months later they were engaged and 5 months after that they were married.

Following a very fun reception at the Devereax mansion in SLC, they left on their honeymoon. They went on a Caribbean cruise. They had a blast. Mike hates the sun so he stayed in the cabin and read 2-3 Harry Potter books while Michelle enjoyed laying out the whole trip.

The day they came home from their honeymoon, they moved to Las Vegas where Mike took a construction management internship. The construction field in Las Vegas was booming so they ended up staying in Las Vegas for 7 years. Michelle says at first she did not want to be in Vegas. Her family was so close and it was hard to be so far away from them. After 4 years however, Michelle grew to LOVE Las Vegas, so much so she'd move back there in a heartbeat. She loved no snow. She loved how strong people were in their faith in Las Vegas, not just the Mormons, but people of all faiths. She loved how outside of the strip everyone was very concerned with rallying around the community and making it a safe place for their families. She also really loved how their ward really was a ward family. Mike also had a sister living in Las Vegas and she loved how they became close. They also had all three of their boys while living in Las Vegas, now who wouldn't love that!

After 7 years, the economic downturn of the country hit Las Vegas and the construction field was hit hard. It became a very great trial for their family. Mike and Michelle decided that at this point they would pay more tithing and fast offering and hope for the best. Mike started looking for different job while he continued working in Las Vegas. Michelle feels that as a result of their tithing and fast offering, Mike was able to get another job here in Salt Lake City. For one week he was working two jobs. One in Las Vegas from home by day and the other on the night crew in SLC. It was a crazy week, but they felt so blessed to have a job.

After moving here, they lived in her grandma's vacated home until they could figure out where they wanted to live. Nanette Stucki, Mike's sister, was living here in Kaysville and kept telling them how great the schools in Kaysville were. The Stucki's had started the process of building with Woodsides here in the neighborhood. Mike and Michelle also felt really good about building in the neighborhood and actually building next door to Nanette. They all really felt they were supposed to be here.

Michelle says although she really misses Las Vegas and no snow, she's grateful to be here. She loves how there are so many fun things to do along the Wasatch Front. The outdoor entertainment, especially camping is endless and that works really well for their family (anyhow it works well for Michelle now that they've purchased a trailer). She also really likes the ease of all the amenities Lagoon, Cherry Hill, movies, etc. etc. The list of family entertainment goes on and on. She says it isn't like that everywhere. Its pretty hard to find somewhere as family friendly to live.

Michelle is a gem. She is very fun. I find her to be very willing to accept and understand others and their failings as well as see what's good in them. We are very lucky to have the Roe family living here and to be expected, their whole family is extremely fun to be around and make such a happy contribution to our ward. Take the time to get to know Michelle. You will be glad you did.