Kevin Leigh

Kevin Paul Leigh, 70 of Cookeville passed away suddenly on July 25, 2022. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 6, 1952, the fourth of six children to Agnes Potocny Leigh of Waupaca, Wisconsin and the late Paul Leigh. The Leigh family moved a few times while Kevin was growing up, including living in the small northeastern town of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. He graduated high school in 1971 from Massena Central High School in New York; and subsequently got an Associate degree in Art from SUNY in 1973. He then moved back to Tunkhannock, where he had attended high school through his junior year and spent 18 years working for Proctor and Gamble. In 1986, he was driving on Tioga Street in Tunkhannock, when he spotted a former classmate walking up the sidewalk. He immediately threw his Ford Ranger in park, dashing out of the truck yelling her name with a big grin on his face. It was to be the life changing moment when he reunited with his soul mate and love of his life, “Dollface,” (aka, Joycie Ross). They began dating and officially married in 1991, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary last year. Kevin and Joyce later moved to Cookeville, Tennessee, where he ended up working in the plumbing trade for over twenty years, many of those years working for Cookeville Heating and Cooling (CHC). He had the energy and enthusiasm of a person half his age. He awakened every day long before the crack of dawn to walk a few miles before heading to work where he spent his days dashing around various job sites, sometimes losing tools along the way to the slight bemusement of his co-workers, but always doing his very best to ensure the job was completed perfectly. Though the work was tough, he never complained, and adored working alongside so many of the CHC people that became his friends. Kevin was humble, caring, had an amazing sense of humor and loved seeing others happy. He had many funny quirks- his handwriting was absolutely illegible, spelling was atrocious, yet he was a master of trivia and very quick witted. He was passionate about football and loved spending time at the sports bar on Sundays watching his Minnesota Vikings play while having a few beers with friends. He enjoyed pheasant hunting with his father, brother and their springer spaniels, and sharing childhood stories with his sisters, who say he was the apple of their mom’s eye. He loved listening to music and adamantly declared the Rolling Stones to be “the greatest rock and roll band of all time.” He also took pleasure in playing guitar; and though he joked about his lack of rhythm, loved to dance with his wife while loudly singing “Rose Tattoo” by Dropkick Murpheys. Survivors in addition to his mother include wife, Joycelyn Kay Ross Leigh of Cookeville, daughters Joycelyn Jenkins of Algood, Andrea (Patrick) Scott of Louisville, KY, sisters Annemarie Austin of Long Island, NY, Kathleen Johnson of Waupaca, WI, Janet Cauldren of River Ranch, FL, Terry Stratton of Hortonville, WI, brother Michael Leigh of Raymondville, NY, grandchildren: Oliver Mercer of Philadelphia, PA, Bryson Evans of Algood, Sullivan Scott of Louisville, KY and Gregory Mercer of Cookeville. In addition to his father who passed away this year, he was preceded in death by a son James Dickson, III in 1998. Kevin’s family will be honoring his final wishes to “Party, Drink and Be Merry,” with a Celebration of Life party at the Saltbox Inn in Cookeville, Tennessee on Saturday August 13th from 5-10 pm and hope Kevin’s many friends and beloved family are able to come share memories. In lieu of flowers, any donations may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Dyer Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931)526-7158. You may share your thoughts and memories at dyerfh.com.