With deep sadness we announce that on Thursday, July 23, 2020, Cindy Lou Espinosa of West Valley City, Utah, passed away from a broken heart after losing her husband just two days earlier and her youngest son in February of this year, she was 61.

Cindy Lou was born on September 25, 1958 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to William Pearl Short and Betty Lou Foster, she was the eighth of nine children.  

Cindy was born with a club foot that required many surgeries to repair, and because Cindy shared a bed with her sisters, they also shared the brunt of her casts as they tried to sleep.  

She married Randal Dee Lester in 1977 and together they had four beautiful children, Shannon, Jayson, and twins Justin and Jennifer, they eventually divorced.  She then met the love of her life Edward Jake Espinosa, they married July 26, 1999 and were just days short of celebrating their 21st wedding anniversary and 26 years together.  Both will be dearly missed and forever celebrated.

Cindy was truly talented. She was the ultimate self-taught crafter way before YouTube and Pinterest.   She taught herself to make dreamcatchers and drums from dried stretched leather, rattles from home-grown gourds, extravagant Christmas wreaths, beautiful jewelry, hair bows and most recently hand-blown glass beads.  Cindy loved to gift her beautiful creations to all those she met, we will cherish these gifts forever and know others will as well. 

Our mother enjoyed gaining knowledge during her time here on earth. Much of her free time she spent researching different religions and could repeat many biblical stories word for word. She loved a good bargain and could often be found frequenting thrift stores in Salt Lake County. Cindy was a spitfire and danced to the beat of her own drum, she liked to make others laugh with her witty humor but most of all she loved her children and wanted them to live their best lives. She was so proud of each of them for their individual accomplishments and worked to help them grow into strong independent adults. She cherished her grandchildren and loved watching them when they were little. She felt a great accomplishment in her efforts to help raise her grandson Xander into the strong and resilient young man he is today.

She is survived by her children, Shannon Dee Lester (Shelley); Jayson David Lester; and Jennifer Marie Bauman (Michael); Daughter-in-Law, Elizabeth Lester; Grandchildren, Tylan Lester, Xander Street, Keegan Lester, Ryker Bauman, Denali Lester and bonus grandkids, Dominique Sparacino, Lyjah Fritz, and Taneil Davey; Sister, Pearl Short Cooper, and brother Kelly Short; Sister-in-laws, Patricia Redington (Scott); Judy Woolley (Dennis); Brother-in-law, Richard Espinosa (Helen Smith); and many nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

Proceeded in death by parents; William and Betty Short, brothers; David, Louie, and Michael. Sisters; Rosella, Barbra, Trixie, and Alice. Husband, Edward Jake Espinosa, and Son; Justin Gaylord Lester. We know they are all up there “Dancing in the sky”, save a dance for us. We love you and miss you, “Mommy dearest”.

A celebration of life will be held On Sunday August 16, 2020 from 11:00-4:00 pm at Jordan Pak in the southwest pavilion, located at 1060 South 900 West SLC, UT 84104. The International Peace Gardens are located within the park and we encourage guests to stroll the gardens, as Cindy loved the flower displays. Guest are encouraged to wear face masks and practice social distancing.