In Memory

Jack O'neil Leathers - Class Of 1944

Jack O'neil Leathers

Jack Leathers, 92, well known for his service to the Edgar County IL Highway Department for 35 years as County Superintendent of Highways, died May 16, 2018 at the George E. Whalen Ogden Veterans Home in Ogden, Utah. There will be no services.

He was born Dec. 10, 1925, in Olney, Illinois, the son of Guy and Floella Leist Weesner and later adopted by Lucy and Victor Leathers, who raised him from the time he was less than a year old. He married Jo Ann Zimmerly in 1946 and divorced 10 years later. He married Charlotte Huckel on February 22, 1959, and she survives.

He is also survived by four children, Gregory Leathers of Santa Cruz, Calif., Cynthia Leathers of Eugene, Ore., Kathryn Leathers of Billings, Mont., and Gretchen Leathers Alexander of Tremonton, Utah; one grandson, Adam Alexander of Tremonton, Utah; his sister-in-law, Marilyn Weesner of Olney; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Eugene Weesner and Bill Weesner.

Mr. Leathers graduated from Olney Township High School in 1944 and joined the Army in January 1945. He served in the infantry and trained as part of the second wave for the invasion of Japan until the atomic bomb ended the war. After discharge in the fall of 1946, he attended the University of Illinois on the GI Bill. He graduated in February 1953 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering.

He started working with the engineering firm of Marbry & Johnson in Robinson, IL and was there until accepting the appointment by the Edgar County Board to be County Superintendent of Highways. Future six appointments led to his retirement July 28, 1988, after 35 years of service. Much was accomplished by Leathers and his staff building bridges, roads and other maintenance.

While in Paris, IL, he became a 32nd Degree Mason and was a member of the Kiwanis Club. He was very active with the Illinois Association of County Superintendents of Highways organization serving on the board of directors from 1957 through 1960 and was president in 1966.

After retirement, in 1989, he and his wife moved to California to enjoy the wonderful climate. He did volunteer work at his church and with Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce. He also enjoyed spending time on his computer. After suffering a serious illness in 2011, they sold their home and moved to Ogden, Utah, to be closer to their daughter.

Jack was a loving husband and father and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) - May 25, 2018