Wally Leighton

Wallace “Wally” Leighton, 63, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away January 18, 2005 at Truman Medical Center. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 20, 2005 at McGilley Midtown Chapel, 20 W. Linwood, Kansas City, Missouri, followed by a brief memorial service at 7 p.m. at the chapel. Cremation. A musical memorial tribute for Wally will be held in the Spring. Donations are suggested to the Wallace Leighton Memorial Scholarship Fund at Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Wally was born on December 9, 1941 in Houlton, Maine, but lived most of his life in Kansas City, Missouri. He is survived by his wife Carol of over 36 years, and his sister Mary Snyder of Kansas City, Kansas. He is also survived by his nephew Rod Snyder, Overland Park, Kansas, his niece Dede Gevargizian, Overland Park, Kansas, his niece Laura Lewis, Gladstone, IL and his nephew John Snyder, Leawood, Kansas, as well as several great nieces, nephews and cousins. Wally taught English, Journalism and Humanities for nearly 32 years at Sumner High School and J.C. Harmon High School, both in Kansas City, Kansas. Wally also taught at Kansas City, Kansas Community College and Longview Community College. Rarely did a week go by without Wally seeing a former student in the community. Wally was also a local musician (folk, country and blues), who played guitar and was fondly known as “The Man of 1,000 Songs”. Wally played in various nightclubs and coffeehouses in the Kansas City area and was a crowd favorite. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, Wally was lead singer of a folk band known as “The Vegamatics.” One of Wally’s main musical influences was Hank Snow. Wally was featured in a PBS special “Amazing Grace, America in Song”, which aired as part of the Great Performances series. He also did the “Shenandoah” theme for a local PBS children's program. Like his wife Carol, Wally also acted in local plays and was often seen as an emcee at area events. For everyone who knew Wally, he was truly the life of the party. Wally was known as “one of the great ones” by those who knew him. Wally enjoyed traveling, experiencing other cultures and was a mentor to many area musicians. No one was more generous and kind than Wally Leighton. Wally will be dearly missed by all.