Eddie G. Leach

Eddie G. Leach, 65, of Hamilton passed away Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008 at the Marcus Daly Hospice and Palliative Care center. He was born Sept. 14, 1942 in Boise, Idaho, the son of the late Raymond F. and Helen F. (Terry) Leach.

Ed was raised in Boise, and in his junior year of high school he began working for the Relyea Funeral Chapel. He graduated from Borah High School in 1960. While attending Boise Junior College, he continued to work for the funeral home and drove school bus for Mr. Roy Turner.

In 1962 he moved to Twin Falls, and began his apprenticeship with the White Mortuary. On Feb. 2, 1962 he married Carol D. Shelstad in Twin Falls. They moved to Gooding, Idaho in July 1962 where he completed his apprenticeship with the Thompson Chapel. In November 1964 they moved to Alameda, Calif.
Ed graduated from the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science in December 1966. While in California he worked with a civilian contractor, helping with the returning Vietnam soldiers in the Oakland Army Morgue. Ed received his Idaho Mortician License in January 1967 and in that same year the couple returned to Gooding, Idaho and Thompson Chapel. They lived in Gooding until July of 1971 when they moved to Hamilton and began working with the Dowling Funeral Home. In October 1984, Ed and Carol began operating the Daly-Leach Memorial Chapel in Hamilton.

Ed was a member and past president of the Gooding and Hamilton Lions Club, a past city councilman of both Gooding and Hamilton, a member of the Hamilton Golf Club, a member of the Hamilton Elks, he served on the Advisory Board of the Council on Aging for Ravalli County, he served on the board of directors for Citizens State Bank, and was a board member of hospice in the early 1980s. He enjoyed his family, community, golfing and riding his motorcycle.

Ed is survived by his wife Carol of Hamilton; two daughters, Kendra and husband Norman Williams of Corvallis, and Carron and husband Tom Grymes of Hamilton; five granddaughters, Rebecca and husband Jim Larson, Kelcie and Cierra Williams, and Kyla and KaSondra Grymes; one great-granddaughter, Kaylyn Larson; three sisters, Barbara Doan of Kuna, Idaho, Carol Walker of Stamford, Texas, and Margaret Harmon of Boise, Idaho; two brothers, Ray Leach of Fort Worth, Texas and Larry Leach of Boise, Idaho; mother-in-law Alice Shelstad of Boise, Idaho; two brothers-in-law, John Shelstad of Lake Havasu, Ariz. and Shelley Shelstad of Boise, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be made in Ed's name to the Marcus Daly Hospice Endowment Fund, 1200 Westwood Dr., Hamilton, MT 59840.