Ed Leonard, 80

William Edward Leonard passed Nov. 23, 2025. Ed was born in Seattle to Bill and Rosemary Leonard on April 24, 1945. When he was 3, the family grew with the addition of Janie Suzanne, followed 10 years later by Nancy Rozanne and one later by Alan Lawrence. They lived in Kirkland, Wash., where Ed went through the school system, graduating from Lake Washington High School in 1963. He went on to attend Whitworth College in Spokane, Wash., where he met his wife, Jacque. They married June 5, 1967.

Ed and Jacque started their family in 1972 with the birth of their son, Brian Edward. Seven years later, Cheryl Suzanne joined their family and their core family was formed. Throughout the next several years, they took several foster children into their home, never having more than two in addition to Brian and Cheryl. In 1979, Ed and Jacque joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They enjoyed full activity in their church throughout the remainder of their lives. Ed served as a Bishop during their years in Yreka, Calif. He built strong relationships throughout his membership in the several wards they lived in.

During his high school years, he got involved in the Seattle Mountaineers and was active in climbing whenever he had the opportunity. He worked on the Search and Rescue branch of this organization during this time. This love of being outdoors and hiking led to years of family backpacking trips. As soon as their children could hike, they spent a portion of every summer on the trails in Washington and Southern California, backpacking and fishing.

Also, during this period of his life, he nurtured an ardent desire to be a private pilot, which became a reality during his 26-year sojourn in Southern California, where he pursued his private pilot's license and purchased his own plane, a Beech Musketeer.

He, his wife, Jacque, and their children, Brian and Cheryl, enjoyed many years of traveling around in their plane, giving rides to family and friends and going to interesting places.

Ed began his professional career as an educator in the Mojave Unified School District where he taught Science in the Junior High and Physical Education at the High School. He also coached football for the high school and basketball and track for the junior high. Outside of those responsibilities, he also got involved in Pop Warner Football as a coach in his spare time while they lived in Lancaster and Palmdale, Calif.

Ed also had an abiding interest in home improvement and construction. Throughout his school years, he worked alongside his dad in home improvement projects, gaining the necessary skills to branch out on his own after his marriage. Because of this interest, he always looked for a home that could use his budding talents. During their marriage, Ed and Jacque moved about every five years, from one project home to the next. The longest time they lived in one house was eight years. The projects he took on got increasingly more difficult and involved. Three times, they purchased new homes, where his projects centered on landscaping, basement completion and storage area creation. "Dad's projects" were an abiding interest throughout his life.

Another interest Ed had was in the fine arts. Ed played the piano, had a photo studio where he developed his own pictures and painted pictures using oil paints. One of his favorite TV series was Bob Ross. He watched Bob paint for years. One of their favorite activities in their early years was making music together. Jacque played the cello and Ed was her favorite accompanist. This continued until physical challenges limited what Ed could do and enjoy.

Ed is survived by his wife, Jacque; his children, Brian and Cheryl; their grandchildren: Nicholas, Spencer, Amelia and Dallin; his siblings: Janie and her son, Danny, Nancy and her children, Ryan, Ashley and Darren and brother Al, and his wife, Penny and their daughter, Chelsea, and her family; Ed's wife Jacque's siblings, Judy Schmand and Bill Boughton; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and their spouses and children.

Ed was laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Please visit Ed's online memorial and sign his guestbook at yatesfuneralhomes.com.