Obituaries

Elbert Herman Leigh

Dr. Elbert Herman Leigh, 83, of Bella Vista died of complications from Alzheimer's on Monday, May 4th, 2015. He was born to parents, Audrey W Leigh and Violet E Leigh in Bolivar, Missouri on January 26, 1932. His early life was spent in Warrensburg, Mo. where he graduated from Warrensburg High School in 1950 and he met the love of his life Kathryn Lucile Leigh. Elbert and Lucile celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on March 24th, 2015. He served honorably in the US Air Force during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954. Dr. Leigh had three successful and fulfilling careers as a doctor of family medicine; as a professor of family practice and psychiatric medicine; and as a child and adolescent psychiatrist. He received his undergraduate degree from Central Missouri State College in 1957 in Biology. His medical degree was obtained from Washington University School of Medicine in 1961. In addition, he was board certified in family medicine, psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry and a charter fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine. Elbert was insatiably curious and possessed a ferocious intellect. He loved to talk about ideas - and always a willing and passionate participant in any conversation. His lifelong passion for nature and the outdoors manifested through white water canoeing and spelunking and mapping uncharted caves in Missouri; camping and exploring many beautiful landscapes in the middle and western states; and skiing in the mountains of Colorado and Utah and the Tetons of Wyoming where he served on the ski patrol and mountain rescue. He played folk and classical guitar; built classical guitars; and loved leather tooling, woodworking and carpentry. He is survived by his wife Lucile Leigh, his oldest son Steven Leigh and his wife Leah of Lee's Summit, Mo. and their two children Matthew and Hillary; and his daughter Vicki Leigh and husband Peter Muller of Evergreen, CO and their two children Eric and Max; and his youngest son Jason Leigh and his wife Paige of Chicago, IL and their four children Madeleine, Porter, Dashiel and Kathryn. Donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer Association at www.alz.org or directly at http://bit.ly/1zFnI9L. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.

Published May 9, 2015

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