One of Dakota’s favorite pastimes was playing trombone in the band. She had been in the band since she was in 6th grade. Her senior year she was the drum major of Cumberland Gap High School band. That year she had won superior at one of their regional competitions as being the drum major. When she attended Cumberland Gap Highschool, she was a vital member of the softball team, where she excelled at playing the outfield. One of her newest hobbies that she loved to do was to go hunting with her boyfriend Jay. Even though she let a buck walk right past her while she was freaking out asking Jay to shoot it for her. She still loves being in the woods just enjoying nature. Her favorite musical genre was country, she always had either Morgan Wallen, Treaty Oak Revival on some occasions she had Pacos or The Rooftops playing.
Dakota was the type of person who wanted to make anyone she could smile. Ever since she was a little girl, she would do everything in her power to make someone's day better. She loved working at Mackies Shaved Ice in Harrogate. From every customer she met she always made them smile with every shaved ice or hot dog she had made them. Some of her favorite times while working at Mackies is when she would put on her Halloween costume and start dancing when they were slow outside the stand to draw in business. It made everyone smile and laugh as they drove by. She also loved her time she spent working at the boat dock and also the plant produce. Dakota also loved helping little kids. You could always find her playing a game with them. After she had graduated high school, she started at Lincoln Memorial University pursuing her degree in elementary school teaching and was wanting to minor in sign language. While attending LMU she took six to seven classes and was still making straight A’s in all her classes. Dakota loved spending time with her family and her friends. She loved all of them very dearly and would do anything for them in a heartbeat. At a young age she was saved and became part of Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She will forever be missed by everyone who knew her.
Dakota was preceded in death by her father Mark Thomas Leight, Grandmother M. Marcella Leight, and Margaret Louthan, Great grandparents Mimi and Richard Schaller and Roy and Gladys Louthan, and Uncle James “Jim” Keck, and Shawn Woolridge.
She is survived by her mother Pamela Louthan, siblings Jasmine Leight, Cameron Leight, Denizal Leight, Eli Leight, Nikki Mcgeorge, Holly Carmony, Bradley Noah. Grandfather Denzial Louthan. Uncle and aunts Rebecca Keck, Karin and Larry Turowski, and Nadine Woolridge. Cousins Michaela Keck, Lori and Brad Bull, Justin Keck, Megan and Brody Edens, Erin Turowski, Kirstin and Chad Green, Laurin Thuney and husband Phil West, Justin Glass. Second cousins: Jack Thuney, April Green, Claire Green, Xander Garrett, Emily and Kassie Bull, Jase, Jenna, Josie, Juniper, Laurel James Edens. One special person she was excited to meet was her niece who is named after her and will be making her grand arrival come May. Along with her beloved dogs Daisy and Diego. As well as a host of other family and friends.
The family would like to give a great thank you to all the first responders and all the donations.
The family requests everyone wear something pink or purple to the services to honor Eliza Dakota.
The family will receive friends on Friday February 28, 2025 from 4 until 7 PM at Pump Springs Missionary Baptist Church, 225 Pump Springs Rd, Harrogate, TN 37752. The funeral service will follow at 7 PM at the church. A graveside service will be held on Saturday March 1, 2025 at 11 AM in Freedom Cemetery, 230 Freedom Lane New Tazewell, TN 37825.
Ministers: Rev. Brody Edens and Rev. Tommy Louthan
Singers: Casey Bull, Railynn Lefevers, Doug Cheek, Jim & Donna Goins & Family, Diane Lay, Dave
Mc Kinney, Joe Russell
Pallbearers: Joel McIntyre, J.T. Perry, Casey Bull, Cameron Leight, Denzial Leight, Xander Garrett, Michael Lee Hendrickson, Justin Keck
Honorary Pallbearer: Eli Leight
