Leo J. McGavick was born Feb. 1, 1936, at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma, Wash., to Leo A. and Marcella (Neumeyer) McGavick. He was anxious to get started with his life as he came into the world two weeks early. Leo died on March 28, 2012, at the Circle of Life at Kootenai Medical Center, surrounded by his family. He will be greatly missed by them.

Leo attended Marymount Military Academy in Tacoma from 1943 to 1950, which took him through the ninth grade. Then it was off to Bellarmine High School where he graduated in 1953. Gonzaga University came next from 1953 to 1955. Knowing that his number would be coming up for military service, Leo enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard, which interrupted his educational pursuits. In the Coast Guard Leo served on the USCG Northwind Icebreaker as an electronics technician. This took him to Alaska for his first time. He also served at Cape Blanco Lighthouse in Cape Blanco, Ore.

After his service in the Coast Guard Leo joined the Naval Reserve, serving as an officer at Amphibian Base in Coronado, Calif., and on the USS Kearsage and the USS Constitution. He was discharged from the Navy in 1973.

In the spring of 1958, following his time with the Coast Guard, he went back to Seattle University where he received a Bachelor of Commercial Science Degree in accounting. After this he studied to become a Revenue Agent with the Internal Revenue Service, moving to Washington, D.C. While in Washington, D.C., he married Carol Bigger. Leo and Carol are the parents of Sharon Marie McGavick, born on Sept. 14, 1967, and John Leo McGavick, born on Nov. 5, 1973.

Leo’s gregarious personality did not mesh well with the tax collection business so after four years he thought he should become an attorney, following in his father’s footsteps. He attended the University of Montana Law School from 1965 to 1967. The plans to become an attorney changed, as that was when Sharon was about to make her appearance into his life. He moved to Daly City, Calif., accepting a position as a Tax Specialist with Peat, Marwick & Mitchell.

He then moved back to the Northwest to become a Trust Officer with Seattle First National Bank, and finally back into government service at U.S. Army Madigan General Hospital as Chief Internal Review Branch Auditor. From there he went to work with the Department of Transportation in Seattle. His auditing position required that he travel a great deal throughout the Northwest region. Leo loved learning. He received his Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1975.

Following one of his auditing trips to Alaska, he was asked to open the Alaskan Branch of Region 10, OIG, Department of Transportation as Chief Auditor. This was his second trip to Alaska where he moved with his family in 1981.

He married Joan Marie Ryan in 1985 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Las Vegas, Nev.

Leo liked to talk about the fact that he worked for all of the military branches. He was in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was an officer in the Naval Reserve. He worked for Madigan Army Hospital. While in Alaska he worked for the Elmendorf Air Force Base. He retired from the Federal Aviation Administration in 1991.

In 1992 Leo and Joan moved from Alaska to Tacoma for a year where he was able to assist his aging father and spend quality time with him during his last year of life. They then retired to their present home in Hayden in 1993.

Leo enjoyed traveling. He traveled a great deal with his professional career. Following retirement he and Joan took numerous trips to see the U.S., catching every state except a few in the New England area. Leo loved the ocean which meant several cruises were also part of his travels.

Leo loved details. If one copy of something was needed, at least three copies were there as backup. In addition to his professional career, he became a tax preparer for numerous clients, some of whom were with him for more than 40 years. He was also a volunteer with the AARP Tax Preparation program in Coeur d’Alene.

He was a member of a number of fraternal organizations, including the Elks Club, the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, the Eagles and other professional organizations.

Leo is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Joan, his daughter Sharon M. McGavick, his son John L. McGavick, his granddaughter Doris Bell, all of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and his two sisters, Rosalie(Jim) Hopper of Seattle, Washington, Tish (Pete) Toomey also of Seattle, Washington.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d’Alene, with viewing and Rosary beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 3, 2012. A reception will follow Military Honors at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the final arrangements. Please visit Leo’s online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign his guest book.