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Laurence James Leahy Jr., 87

Laurence James Leahy Jr., 87, passed away peacefully on Oct. 10, 2018. Larry was an avid hunter and fisherman and set off on his best hunt ever at 5:27 a.m., the opening day of Idaho deer and elk hunting season. Larry was born Sept. 8, 1931, in Columbia Falls, Mont., to Laurence J. Leahy Sr., and Mary Anne (Kline) Leahy. He lived in Spokane, Wash., and attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic School for first through fourth grades.

In 1941, the family relocated to Post Falls, Idaho. During World War II, his family owned and operated Leahy’s Shell Service Station and Store near the rock church on the corner of McGuire Road and old U.S. Highway 10. In 1945, the family moved to the property on North McGuire Road, where Larry lived the rest of his life.

Larry graduated from Post Falls High School in 1949 and enlisted in the Navy. He served aboard the USS Hector (AR-7) during the Korean War and spent his last assignment at the Naval Air Facility, Adak, Alaska. He was honorably discharged in 1954.

Larry attended North Idaho College and the University of Idaho, graduating in 1959 with a degree in education. He taught shop class for one year at Orofino High School, in Orofino, Idaho. When Larry left teaching he returned to work in the forests like he had been doing during his summers while in college.

In 1960, he met Joan M. Gallant, an English teacher from Canada, while at a teaching convention in Spokane, Wash. They were married Aug. 31, 1963, in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and made their home in Post Falls, Idaho.

Larry went on to work for the Bureau of Reclamation and later, the Bureau of Land Management, from which he retired in 1991. After he retired, he worked at North Idaho College in the Adult Education Department, testing students for their GEDs.

Larry was a loving father to two daughters and a grandfather to three granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents, his only sibling, Mary Jane Groeger, and his wife. He is survived by his daughters, Kathleen (Tim Thurston) of Sandpoint, Idaho and Patricia (Patrick Charles) of Spokane; granddaughters, Caitlin (D.J. Simpson) of Post Falls, Idaho, and Madeline and Frances (Charles) of Omaha, Neb.

A child of the Depression, Larry knew how to work hard, enjoy the simple things of life, make do with what he had, save things “for good” and grow amazing vegetables out of a rock garden. His wit, charm, humor, humbleness and his magnificent eyebrows will be greatly missed.

Larry’s family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Hospice of North Idaho, especially Lori and Katie, who made it possible for Larry to stay in his beloved home until the very end; and to Comfort Keepers of Coeur d’Alene, especially Marc, who kept Larry’s home immaculately clean and cared for Larry in a gentle yet unobtrusive manner. Thank you to all of Larry’s friends and neighbors who visited and helped Larry around the house as his health declined, especially Wayne and Jim.

Services for Larry will be Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, at St. George’s Catholic Church, 2004 N. Lucas St., Post Falls. A Rosary will be said at 10:30 a.m., followed by the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of North Idaho.

English Funeral Chapel, Post Falls has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please sign his online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.