Jake Leedy

John "Jake" Wyatt Leedy, 63, of Sandpoint, Idaho, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2014, at Bonner General Hospital. Born May 1, 1951 in Santa Monica, California, to Daniel Cassius Leedy and Lorna Mae Leedy, John was the second of their four children. John grew up in the small town of Encinitas in coastal Southern California. He spent summers on the beach, surfing and playing volleyball with his brothers and a close-knit group of lifelong friends. When not on the beach, he and his friends spent days and nights exploring the local wilderness. Their camping and hiking expeditions to Black Mountain, the Porker Ranch, Box Canyon and other sites resulted in a multitude of adventures (and misadventures). Their shared experiences forged lasting bonds and made for some pretty good stories--stories that assumed legendary proportions (at least in the minds of their protagonists) through their many and varied retellings. There was the Drive-in Caper, the Burning Boots, Jumping the Clam, the Baptism of Interstate 5--numerous dubious exploits that any kid would be proud to be a part of. John played Little League baseball and wrestled in high school, making it to the California Interscholastic Federation finals his junior and senior years. He graduated from San Dieguito High School in 1969 and went on to study anthropology at the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1973. In college he particularly enjoyed studying abroad in Austria and trips to Mexico on archeological digs, where he served as project engineer. Much later in his life, Jake returned to college at North Idaho College to earn his AA Certificate in drafting. John moved to Colorado in 1973 to pursue a passion for skiing he'd developed during his Wyoming years, and that is when he got renamed. Landing at a ski area called Happy Jack, he found himself surrounded by Johns. One of his colleagues started calling him Jake, and it stuck. His next move was to A-Basin, the highest ski area in Colorado. After heading up the ski shop for several years, he started a search for the perfect place to spend the rest of his life. Sandpoint, with its ski area and gorgeous lake met all his specifications. He found his dream ranch on Center Valley Road and has lived there since 1978. Thanks to his springer spaniels, Cody and Ebony, he also found the love of his life, Jennifer. He spotted her good looking springer, Charlie, outside the Donkey Jaw and went in to seek his owner. After a little conversation about the merits of their fine dogs, things just clicked. Jake and Jennifer were married out at the ranch in 1982. All three dogs were in attendance. Jake worked at Schweitzer Basin in Skier Services for most of his years in Sandpoint and was delighted when he earned his lifetime pass. He also worked as a carpenter and builder for many years before moving into city planning after he'd earned his degree from NIC. Jake was passionate about his family, which, in addition to Jennifer included his daughters Serina Dawn Leedy and Lisa Marie Leedy. His daughter Serina and son in law Ben Cutler added two more girls to the clan, Mae Ahava Cutler and Ruth Honorah Cutler. Born into a good-sized Irish clan and himself a lover and teller of stories, Jake decided his extended family ought to get to know one another better and share more stories. He started the tradition of Leedy-Durkin family reunions every three years and hosted two of them in Sandpoint, the first in 1980. His story telling skills were much admired by all members of his extended family. Besides family, skiing and water sports, Jake had a passion for reading, boating, hummingbirds, sea otters, his dogs, his homes on Center Valley Rd. and "Happy Hollow," out on Bottle Bay. An active member of the Sandpoint community, he participated in meditation classes, yoga with Maria Alberg, Lost in the 50's, the AA Fellowship, and Cancer Survivors' Group. In addition to his wife, daughters, granddaughters and son in law, Jake is survived by his two brothers, David Merrill Leedy and his wife Nancy; Thomas Joseph Leedy and his wife, Martha; and his sister Lisa Leedy Thomson and her husband David. His "adopted" sons Erik Boone, Ben Larsen and Kyle Deshon also survive him, as well as numerous cherished cousins, nieces and nephews, his dear friend Marsinah Runge and the girls of summer, and the Lost in the 50's gang. Grady Logan, Sandy and Dennis Lee, Eddie and Allen Jones, Keith and George Dubois, and Gary Bergman remained lifelong friends from his Encinitas days. Special thanks to our wonderful doctors at Seattle Cancer Care Center, Dr. Lin and Heidi Stetcher, RN, the team at Kootenai Cancer Center, Dr. Gertson, and Jake's nurses in ICU, Chuck and Rachel. The family suggests memorials be given to Community Cancer Services in Sandpoint. Family and friends are invited to sign Jake's online guest book at coffeltfs@frontier.com. A gathering for family and friends will be held at the family home on Tuesday, July 22, 2014, at 4 p.m.