Norman Leek (Major, U.S. Army, Ret.) passed away on Aug. 18, 2006 after his final “combat duty,” this time with cancer. Thankfully this battle took place after the wonderful, memory filled visit in April surrounded with honor and love by his many relatives in Missouri, his dream fulfilled of returning once more to his childhood home.

Norman was born in Newburg, Mo. on July 1, 1918, to Claude and Mamie Hudgens Leek. Mamie was a school teacher and instilled in her children a love of reading and seeking knowledge. His father, grandfather and uncles were all railroad men, telegraphers on the Frisco Line.

Life during the Depression era meant finding work where jobs were available, so his family moved many times, but the bond of family always kept them together. This was a central theme in Norman’s 88 years of life: “Home is where family is.”

With no railroad position available upon graduation, the U.S. Army became Norman’s career from the young age of 18. His letters home built the mystique of their “famous Uncle Norman.” He served his country in both WWII (Norman referred to these two years as “an all-expense tour of the South Pacific”) and in Korea. Moving from Army Air Corps to Personnel Manager, then Transportation Corps, Norman’s abilities were recognized and vied for his gifts of charity towards others combined with high standards encouraged the best from those he supervised. We are told that storytelling and humor made light even drudge jobs if one worked alongside Norman. Two of Norman’s most memorable assignments were the Port of New Orleans and serving as Port Adjutant of the Port of Casablanca, Morocco during the Eisenhower administration.

He married Pauline Williams on Sept. 4, 1942, and no matter where they lived, his loving wife and their two daughters, Donna and Deborah, were always the center of his joy and community involvement. Moving every 18 months, there were many family automobile trips together (like the long, arduous journey up the unpaved Alaska Highway to duty at Anchorage in the 1950s). Always constant were evenings around the family table, discussing events of the day or helping with homework, and Norman’s proud father/grandfather role at church and school music programs, awards ceremonies, graduations, then weddings and baptisms. “He was a “real dad!” (quoted from his sons-in-law, Bill and Steven.)

Norman was a deeply spiritual man. Over the years he taught youth and adult Sunday School, participated in leading men’s groups, lodge meetings and youth fellowships. He was “recruited” to many lay leadership positions in Methodist, Baptist and Assembly churches, as well as community associations and councils. He and Pauline started the first Protestant Sunday School in Casablanca, Morocco during his tour there, and the couple hosted Bible study groups in their home throughout their married years.

They lived their faith and values, raising us to respect all people, recognizing common love of family and home, and to be tolerant of different viewpoints.

Norman and Pauline moved to Langley in 1990 to be closer to grandchildren Evan and Eirian, and daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Bill Humphreys.

Though they celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Humphreys’ home and looked forward to greeting great-grandchildren together, Pauline’s life was cut short by Parkinson’s Disease in 1993.

The couple were members of Langley United Methodist Church and Eastern Star. Norman was a member of Langley Masonic Lodge.

Norman was a loving, compassionate, gregarious person, lighting up a room as he engaged people in conversation. Never a loner, he remarried and found a good traveling companion in the talented watercolor artist, Merrian Svanda of Langley. Norman encouraged her in her art and cared for her through many convalescent times until his own health failed and he had to move this past year from the home they shared. Merrian passed away the end of August and a memorial art show of her work is planned.

Norman was a “song hummer.” Wherever he was, alone or in public, he had a favorite hymn, folk song, or humorous “ditty” on his lips. He was fond of saying that his family “knew how to make their own entertainment.”

Norman didn’t have a trained voice, but knew all the tunes and lyrics to the good old hymns and folk songs — a walking, humming Americana library!

Please join the family at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at Langley United Methodist Church (Third and Anthes). There will be a celebration of his life and faith in the way Norman most loved: An Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing! All are welcome to come and experience the joy of singing together the old and beloved hymns and songs so dear to his heart.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Langley United Methodist Church Music Fund or the Salvation Army.