Susan Kathleen Leach, 74, of Mansfield passed away at her home after a long illness.
Susan was born May 3, 1950 In Mansfield to Arthur and Betty Ayers Smith who preceded her in death. She was a 1967 graduate of Madison High School. She started her medical career as a volunteer First Aid and CPR instructor for the Red Cross, then went on to Nursing School and achieved Masters Degrees in Nursing and Business Administration from Ashland and Wright State universities. She was a nursing instructor for North Central State University, and later became a Nurse Practitioner. She worked in and instructed in all nursing disciplines. She worked at Mansfield General, Crestline, and Richland hospitals.
Susan was a long time member of St. Peters Catholic Church and a member of the church choir. Susan and husband Pat spent many months a year on St. George Island where Sue was a volunteer First Responder/EMT for medical rescues. She was a member of the Bay Choral Society of Apalachicola/Port St. Joe, Florida and also spent some time with the Panhandle Players community theater group.
She provided logistics support for the national events at Mid Ohio Sports car course and was especially fond of working with the coaches in managing the motorcycle schools. Sue had a huge heart for animals and adopted many of the rescue dogs and cats that she saved. Each year she raised bluebird babies and Monarch butterflies to the point of growing / cultivating the food that they ate. She loved gardening and (oh yeah) sweets! She treasured her family and friends and the time they spent together.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Patrick Leach.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 – 4pm at Herlihy Funeral Home, 173 Park Avenue West. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday at 11:00am with prelude music beginning at 10:45am at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 60 S. Mulberry Street. Burial will follow in Mansfield Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Forgotten Felines, c/o Carla Waleri, 717 Westview Blvd., Mansfield, OH 44907.
Funeral Home: Herlihy Funeral Home
Website: www.herlihyfh.com