Leonard C. Dunham

Leonard Dunhyam went to meet with our Lord on July 25, 2011 at the age of 72. He was in Memorial Hospital in Yakima, Washington most of the month of July battling chronic leukemia, where he passed away peacefully. He was born to Leonard W. Dunham and Secelia Alme Dunham in Shelby, MT and attended Oilmont, MT High School.

He married Dolorse. They had a son David Dunham and he raised two stepdaughters, Shirley Lunda and Chris Morgan. They divorced in 1998. He worked in the Montana oilfields for several drilling companies, ending his career as the drilling superintendent for W.R. Grace. He retired in 1994 and moved to Yakima, WA.

While in Alaska he and three friends started racing thoroughbreds under 4-J’s Stable. Leonard was known as Junior, and his friends were Jerome, Jack and Jigger. Cliff Balcom was their trainer who ran several horses for them here in Washington State. When Leonard moved to Yakima he and Jerome Gardipee became partners raising thoroughbreds, and were voted Washington Breeders of the Year in 2002. In 1999 he married Denise Halstead, and they continued to raise thoroughbreds. He was also a long time member of the Central Lutheran Church here in Yakima.

Leonard is survived by his son and two stepdaughters living in Alaska; sister Lucille Nelson, brother Merritt Neil Dunham; his niece Debbie Norton, nephews Gary Dorn, Paul Dorn Rick Dorn, Craig A. Dunham, living in Montana, and Darrin D. Dunham living in Texas.

In lieu of flowers please send donations in Leonard’s name to Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (POB 3387 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

A Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at Keith & Keith Terrace Heights Chapel. To share a memory of Leonard visit, www.keithandkeith.com.