The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1917-07-19
WAS FOREMOST CITIZEN
Of LEXINGTON COUNTRY

The death of VIM. E. Leach in this
city early last Friday morning marks
the passing of one of Lexington's
foremost citizens.
Mr.. Leach came to Morrow county
with his parents from Weston, Ore
gon, when lad of eleven and had
been a resident of Lexington for the
past thirty-three years. In the course
of his long residence there he fol-
lowed the vocations of farmer and
merchant, being interested with his
brother, N. A. Leach, in merchandise
ing for the past twenty years and in
strumental in building up one of the
largest businesses of this kind in the
county.
While a man given over largely to
business affairs in which he was per-
sonally interested, yet he was public
spirited to a marked degree and moth
| ng for the betterment and upbuild-
ing of his home town and commun-
ity ever was allowed to pass without
receiving his endorsement and active
support. He was specially interested
in securing for his town good
school and is entitled to large meas
ure Of credit for the splendid school
and equipment that Lexington now
enjoys, and he also took great pride
in civic improvements in his little
city and endorsed and worked for ev
everything that tended to make Lex
fington an attractive place In which t
live. As a citizen of the county hi
was known to be reliable and sub
stantial, always ready to take hold o
every good movement, and we cal
truthfully say that he will be misset
from the activities of the county out
side of his own town. Mr.. Leacl
served as the first president of tn
Morrow County Fair Association ant
helped to place that institution OF
its feet. Aside from this, he neve
served the people of the county in
public position, though he has con
tinuously occupied public place ii
his home town as mayor, councilman
and school director.
We have known W. E. Leach TO
years and can only speak good O
him and feel that we can but feetl
voice the universal esteem in whicl
he is held by the citizenship not onl
of his local community but the entir
county We can i'll afford to los
such men from the activities of lif
and the entire community suffers hi
demise.
Mr. Leach was taken suddenly il
at his home in Lexington on Friday
July s. He was not alarmed at tn
time as he thought he was suffering
an attack of indigestion, only, ant
would be all right in day or so
Not getting any better on Saturday
DR.. McMurdo was called from Hepp
ner to minister to him and diagnosed
his case as appendicitis and he wa
brought to the Heppner Sanatoriun
at once for an operation. This hat
been delayed too long, however, a
the appendix had bursted and tn
bowels had become badly infected
with the poison, causing their ccm
plete paralysis, and the best medica
care and attention could not over
come this condition.
Funeral services were conducte,
at the home of the deceased in Lex
ington on Saturday evening, July IA
and was attended by practically tn
entire population of the Lexington
country. A short and appropriat
discourse was delivered by Rev. lie
Sadler and and quartette sang sey
eral beautiful hymns. The remain
were followed to the cemtery by
large host of friends, something lik
sixty automobiles being in line. A
the grave the burial service of tn
|. o. O. F. was read. Many beaut
full floral gifts fttingly expressed tn
sympathy and high tribute of respet
in which the deceased was held.
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