Terry Leach

Donald Bruce “Terry” Leach, age 83, of Hessel, Michigan, died Friday, July 11, 2014 at Ball Hospice House in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was born June 18, 1931 in Pickford, Michigan, to Hugh and Marie Ellen (McLaughlin) Leach. Terry grew up in Pickford and graduated from Pickford High school in 1949. Just two days after graduation, he moved to Flint, Michigan where he worked for three years for Buick in their chrome plating division. He moved back to the Hessel area when he was offered a job at the Cedarville Red Owl Food Store. He worked in the meat department at the store full time for 40 years until 1996 and then continued to work on “truck days”, two days each week until March 2011 when ill health forced him to stop. Terry volunteered for the Les Cheneaux Ambulance Corps for 20 years. He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Cedarville. Terry enjoyed bowling and bowled in leagues for most of his life. He started in 1962 when the St. Ignace Bowling Alley opened and later bowled in leagues in Sault Ste. Marie. Terry enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and watching sports on television. Terry is survived by his wife of 40 years, Marcia Jean (Birge) whom he married May 4, 1974; daughter, Tami (Steven) Autore of Cedarville; son, Keith (Jennifer) Leach of Stedman, North Carolina; grandchildren, Daniel Autore, Anthony (fiancé, Tammy Martino) Autore, Wade Autore, and Whitney (Jake Gerow) Autore; and great granddaughter, Caliana Bouschor. Terry is also survived by three sisters, Hattie Pitko, Betty Anderson, and Phyllis (Conrad) Schmitigal, all of Sault Ste. Marie. Terry was preceded in death by one son, Terry Lee Leach; brothers, Jim, Robert, and Gerald Leach; and infant sister, Janice Leach. Services will be held Thursday, July 17, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 271 N. M-129, in Cedarville. A gathering time will begin at 1:00 P.M. with a Memorial Service to follow at 2:00 P.M. Interment will follow the service at Cedar Cemetery. Memorials may be left to Bethel Lutheran Church, 271 N. M-129, Cedarville, MI 49719 or Les Cheneaux Ambulance Auxiliary, P.O. Box 453, Hessel, MI 49745.

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Terry Leach

June 18, 1931 - July 11, 2014