Jean Leigh

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Jean Leigh, 79, Nevada, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at Barone Alzheimer's Care Center in Nevada where she had resided for more than a year. She was born on Feb. 12, 1929, in Miami, Okla., the daughter of Quinten Shellhammer and Faye Hudson Shellhammer. She married Charles Wesley Leigh in Nevada in 1948, and he preceded her in death in 1994.

Jean attended Kansas State College of Pittsburg and received her R.N. degree from Mercy School of Nursing in Fort Scott, in 1974. In 1981, Jean received her Master of Nursing degree from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and served for several years as an Adjunct Instructor for the Kansas Medical Center College of Health Sciences School of Nursing.

Jean's career in nursing was spent at both the Nevada State Hospital and the Nevada City Hospital. Later in her professional career she was also in demand as a speaker at many conferences and workshops throughout Missouri and Kansas, acquiring a reputation as the "Good Humor Nurse" through her presentations on therapeutic applications of humor which were given not only to physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals, but also to numerous other business and professional groups and organizations.

In addition, throughout her life Jean enriched the lives of countless Nevada citizens through her extensive volunteer activities in organizations such as Meals on Wheels and Make Today Count. She served as an organizer and worker in local health fairs and community screening programs, and generously donated her time and energy to countless other activities, events, and projects throughout the Nevada area.

Survivors include two sons, John Leigh, Garland, Kan., and Jim Leigh, Columbia, Mo.; three grandchildren, Gabriel Leigh, Fort Scott, David Leigh, Lawrence, Kan., and Jennifer Leigh, Scottsdale, Ariz.; one great-granddaughter, Lily Leigh, Fort Scott, Kan., and her sister Judy Phillips, Shreveport, La..

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m., tomorrow, at Newton Burial Park, Nevada, with Dr. William Cox officiating. Friends may call now and until 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

In lieu of flowers, those who desire may make memorial contributions either to the National Parkinson Foundation, Office of Development, 1501 NW 9th Avenue, Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494, or to the local charity of their choice in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneral.com.