Leah Rebekah Bair

Leah Rebekah Bair, beloved mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend, went to rejoice in the pure and unconditional love of our father in heaven on the afternoon of January 30, 2022. She was 48.

Leah was born on June 4, 1973, to her father, Martin Wesley Keipp, and her mother, Catherine Gail Keipp, at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The 4th of five children and the daughter of a high-ranking military officer, Leah and her family experienced many different places, countries, and cultures growing up, sparking her passion for learning, creativity, and art. Leah was an exceptionally gifted artist - her creativity, love, and sensitivity showing throughout her many amazing drawings.

Leah met the love of her life, Gordon, on social media before social media was cool (or even existed!). What a love story! A romance was born out of an AOL chat room, all the way through the interwebs from El Paso, Texas, to Seattle, Washington. Gordon described meeting Leah that first time in El Paso, dazzled by her beauty and those soulful blue eyes of hers. It did not take long, and Leah knew her place was with Gordon, the love of her life, in Seattle.

Leah was born to be a mom; just ask her younger brother, A.J., to whom she was exceptionally close, as she was always his second mother. She was kind, compassionate, and always put others before herself. She and Gordon were exceptionally blessed to welcome Dalton Joseph (named for her little brother) in February 1999. He was the first grandchild to her side, and everyone thought he was pure magic embodied in human form. Joshua Martin (named for her dad) was welcomed with love by all in November 2001. Those big blue eyes of his, a reflection of his beautiful mother. Her two sons were her sun, her moon, and all her stars, and she raised those boys with infinite love, grace, with a little bit of tough love in the mix. She adored her two boys to the moon and back, and she loved guiding them into the fine young men they are today, with God’s grace and word, which she would often leave on sticky notes to remind them of their perfection and worth in God’s eyes. Dalton and Josh carry on their mother’s legacy of love, compassion, grace, and faith in our Lord.

Leah was passionate about kids, and that was reflected in her life’s work. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso and went on to receive her certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant from the Green River Community College. She followed her calling to accept a position with the Tacoma Public School System in the COTA department, where she made a difference for children with her kindness, her patience, and her love. Her love and passion for helping those most in need was a true gift and blessing to those she touched.

Leah is survived by her loving husband, Gordon, her two adored sons, Dalton and Joshua, the absolute loves of her life and whom she adored beyond measure. She is also survived by her parents, Martin Wesley and Catherine Gail, her siblings Kevin Keipp (wife Debbie, daughters Kelsey and Katelyn), Susan Wisk (husband Matt, sons Jack and Ryan), Rachel Montes (husband Richard, son Jacob), AJ Keipp (wife Jolene, son Sean, daughter Catherine), and so many more family, friends, and coworkers who knew and loved her.

The celebration of life will take place on March 31, 2022, at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Memorial Funeral Home in Renton, Washington. The celebration will be live-streamed via OneRoom for those who cannot attend in person. The following two days, her family will honor her love of the outdoors by casting her ashes at two of her favorite places, Alki Beach and Cannon Beach. Later this summer, the family will do a third casting at the location of one of her favorite hikes.

“We are reminded how short life really is, and how we are just passing through. So, all the people you haven’t told you love lately, tell them, and live your days like you mean it.” Hal Sutton

If you would like to express your sympathy, in lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to be given in Leah’s name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, JDRF.