Baker City, Oregon
William Paul Leigh Sr., 84, of Baker City died May 29, 2003, at his home.
His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Pastor Monte Loyd of Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate.
Mr. Leigh was born on Aug. 26, 1918, at Parma, Idaho, to William Edison Leigh and Mary Lois Boyles. He attended Parma High School. His higher education consisted of the Westpoint welding and diesel school at Chicago.
During World War II he welded in the shipyards of Portland. He then returned to Baker County and began working in the logging industry.
He built roads, did mechanic work, drove truck and was a night watchman until he retired in 1981 from Ellingson Lumber Co. He also farmed and ranched on the side.
He was involved in the hunter education classes, Powder River Sportsman’s Club, Baker County Mounted Posse and shot and reloaded for the Oregon State Police pistol team.
He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting and fishing and he had a great love for animals, especially horses.
He married Elaine B. Lewis at Winnemucca, Nev., on June 7, 1947. He spent the last four years of his life at the Madison’s Foster Home in Baker City.
Survivors include his sister, Myrtle Clark, age 101, of Payette, Idaho; his wife, Elaine of Baker City; son and daughter-in-law, Bill Leigh Jr. and his wife, Cindy, of Baker City; daughter and son-in-law, Lon and Mary Nalder of Oxbow; a stepson, Lyle Ingram of La Grande; five grandsons, seven granddaughters and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a stepson, Carl Lewis “Lewy” Ingram; and two sisters, Francis Young of Roseburg and Betty Orth of Los Angeles.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 6, 2003
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor