Obituary of Mary E. Leigh

Johnsburg: Mary Elizabeth Cleveland Leigh, 86, of 1081 Garnet Lake Road North, ended her pilgrimage on earth Saturday, July 11, 2009, at the Adirondack Tri-County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. in North Creek, where she had been a resident for about 3 months. Born March 21, 1923 in Garnet Lake, she was the youngest child of James and Chloe (Fuller) Cleveland. Other than a few years living in Albany early in her marriage, Mary lived in the Johnsburg area all her life. She married Russell G. M. Leigh on July 2, 1941. They lived and raised their family, mostly on Garnet Lake Road. Mary went to school for grades 1-8 at the Putman School District #13 and grades 9-12 at the North Creek High School, from which she graduated in 1940. She received a University of Florida Management and Supervision Certificate in the 1970’s; and continued extension courses in nutrition throughout her career. Mary started working right after high school and over her career of well over 50 years worked as housekeeper, caregiver, cook, mailorder facilitator, chambermaid, caterer, waitress, and/or manager at several local homes and resorts including Maxam’s on Garnet Lake, Smith’s Restaurant, the Garnet Lake Lodge, Harvey (Garnet) Mountain Ski Center, and Chatiemac Club. She retired from Food Service Manager at the Adirondack Tri-County in 1990 after nearly 20 years of employment. Mary was active in the community, often canvassing and/or cooking for various health related charities, the JCS Scholarship Fund, the Nursing Home and the Johnsburg Library Fund Drives. She was a member of the Garnet Lake Fire Department, was an MYF Leader and a 4-H Leader for many years. Her hobbies included sewing, knitting, round and square dancing, crocheting, tailoring, reading, cooking, and ceramics. She was a great woman; a hard worker. Mary and Russ raised several Foster Children over the years. Mary is predeceased by her parents, her siblings James “Buster” Cleveland and Gretchen Ross Millington, and her daughter Virginia Aloha Leigh Skellie (Sis), her son-in-law Allen Lee Richards, her brother-in-law Edgar Leigh, her sister-in-law Miki D. Mellon, and her former daughter-in-law Carolyn Leigh. Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Russell G. M. Leigh, her daughter Mary Ann Richards of Pleasant Valley, her son Russell W. Leigh and his wife Jane of Johnsburg, her daughter Wanda Armstrong and her husband John of Chestertown, and her daughter Jonnie Leigh of Johnsburg. She is also survived by her grandchildren Michele Leigh and Russell W. Leigh II whom they adopted and raised from an early age. Rusty lives in Queensbury with his wife Melissa. Michele and her companion Keith Monroe have lived with Russ and Mary for several years and have been their faithful and loving caregivers. Mary is also survived by her son-in-law Stephen L. C. Skellie and his wife Joan of Orlando, Florida and her former daughter-in-law Debra Leigh. Mary has a legacy of 13 grandchildren and 3 step-grandchildren who have presented many, many great-grandchildren to her. Other survivors include her faithful brother-in-law Warren W. Leigh and his wife Kay of Bloomingdale and many well-loved nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren. Friends may call on Mary’s family from 3 to 6 pm Tuesday, July 14th at the Alexander Funeral Home, Inc., 4479 Main Street, North River. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 6 pm at the funeral home with her nephew, the Rev. Howard Ross and Rev. Wayne Schoonmaker officiating. Burial will take place 10 am, Wednesday morning in the Garnet Lake Wesleyan Cemetery, Johnsburg, in the shadow of her beloved Crane Mountain. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association - Northeastern New York Chapter, Pine West Plaza, Bldg 4 Suite 405, Washington Ave Ext, Albany, NY 12205. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Adirondack Tri-County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for their loving care of Mary these few months. We also wish to thank Barb O’Dell for her tireless care for Mary these last years. Please visit www.alexanderfuneralhomes.com for online guest book, condolences and directions.