Kenneth Duane Leach

Kenneth Duane Leach, age 88, of Alpharetta, Georgia and formerly of Cumming, Georgia passed away Wednesday, February 23, 2022. He was born in Portland, Oregon in 1933 and was predeceased by his dear wife Aleen May Baumer Leach (Lynn), to whom he was married for 57 years. They were wed in 1959 and over the years lived  in Oregon, Washington, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. They chose to return to Georgia to retire on Lake Lanier and lived in Cumming for more than three decades prior to the move to Alpharetta. 

He is survived by three adult children, Steven D. Leach of Hanover NH, Kenneth B. Leach of Suwanee GA; and Pamela J. Holliday of Alpharetta GA; their loving partners Kathy, Ashley, and Rick; his former daughter-in-law Annette; his eight grandchildren - Jordan, Alex, Matthew, Nathan, Lauren, Taylor, Cody and Kendall; and his loving dog Dixie.  He was also predeceased by his sister Beverly Jean Leach Canfield and is survived by his nieces and nephew, Susan, Debra, Trisha and Rob.

Kenneth was the son of Earl Wilber Leach and Amanda Wilmein Boetger Leach. He graduated from Portland’s Grant High School in 1951, establishing lifelong friendships while also working walking the greyhounds at Portland’s Multnomah Kennel Club. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, and served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1958, where he was stationed at Sandia Base, New Mexico. Upon his discharge, he began a 31-year career selling Maxwell House Coffee, rising to the position of District Sales Manager in the General Foods Corporation. In this role, he took great pride in Maxwell House always being “Good to the Last Drop”, and was known for his collegiality, for his focus on providing opportunity to diverse employees, and for his devotion to mentoring his junior staff.

Kenneth’s children remember him as a kind and loving father who devoted many hours to building model cars, coaching Little League Baseball and supporting his children’s many activities. He also enjoyed many hobbies, including skiing, boating, snorkeling and golf. In retirement, Kenneth served as President of the North Atlanta Senior Men’s Golf Association and also completed a term on Forsyth County Board of Tax Assessors. Together with their lifelong friends, he and Lynn spent many weeks boating and snorkeling in both the American and British Virgin Islands and also treasured their time at Depoe Bay on the Oregon Coast. They especially enjoyed spending time with their growing family, and their grandchildren will always hold dear their memories of elaborate family Christmas celebrations and time spent with Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Ken at their annual “Fish Camp” at Lake Lanier.

In his final weeks, Ken expressed love and gratitude to all his friends and family, and continued to remark that “he was in pretty good shape for the shape he was in.” Kenneth’s entire family wishes to thank the staff at Atria North Point, where he and Lynn spent their final years, and to all of Ken and Lynn’s lifelong friends who provided them so much joy. The family also wishes to particularly thank caregivers Faith Kariuki and Pleshetta Whitney for the tremendous care and kindness they provided Kenneth over the past two years.

The family plans a private celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends please make a donation in Kenneth’s memory to their favorite charity.

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Scott Huskins Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of the arrangements. | scotthuskins.com | 678.771.5566

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