Juanita Jean Leach

-Cardinal Meymillod

Juanita Jean Leach was without a doubt a mother who cannot be replaced. She was an amazing mother with a heart of gold and quite the sassy spirit. She was mother to not only her children but the friends of her children, many of whom grew very close to her and thought of her as their own mother. However, she was the best mother that the Leach girls have ever asked for.

Juanita Jean was born on April 6th, 1971 in Virginia, Minnesota. She was adopted by Robert and Nadine Reber when she was 7 years old. She grew up in Ridgecrest, California with her adopted siblings, Ernie and Kathie Reber. At her young age, Juanita was a very spirted child who loved to catch reptiles and bring them home to keep as pets. She was outside most of the time, hanging out with friends, exploring the local desert, and occasionally helping her parents with the yard work and chores. She attended the local high school and became a force to be reckoned with. She took no shenanigans from anyone and stood up for herself and her friends time and time again. At age 17, Juanita began working at the local steak house called the Golden Corral in 1988, before she graduated high school, as a hostess. The fall of 1988 would change her life forever. On a weekend in that fall of 1988, is when she met her spouse and best friend, Robert Jay Leach. He was stationed at China Lake Navy base in town, and he had caught her eye. Due to military conflicts within management of Golden Corral and Robert, Juanita was restricted from talking to him. But she didn’t give up, she instead had her waitress friend, Jenny slip him a note she wrote on a receipt. It read “This is my home phone number, call me soon. -Juanita”. From that single note that was slipped into Robert’s hands, while he was eating his evening meal, blossomed a beautiful relationship that would give Juanita her mother title.

Robert and Juanita married on May 13th, 1989, at small little chapel at the Hacienda in Las Vegas, Nevada. Not to long after the couple had been married, the announcement arrived, first to Nadine’s ears who was so excited that she could hardly contain herself, that the couple were expecting their first child. On February 22nd, 1990, their first daughter, Litta Jean was born. Juanita had officially become a mother. Litta just like her mother, was a very spirited child, full of spunk and joy for the new parents. The couple then received the news that they were expecting again. On August 1st, 1991, their second daughter, Bretta Lynne’ was born and not to long after, the couple again received the news that they were expecting again. On June 26th, 1992, the couple welcomed their third daughter, Toshina Kirsten. The house was full of laughing girls and Robert could not have been happier, or so he thought, on February 17th, 1994, their fourth daughter, Neva Paulette was born. Four daughters, what could go wrong?

Over the years, Juanita became the multitasking mother of the universe. From different sport practices for each of the girls, games, swimming lessons, working a full-time job, attending school events, and so much more, Juanita could do it all. One of those hectic days, Robert took over and boy did he not like it. Laying in bed with Juanita that night, he said, “I do not know how you do it. How you keep track of everything, and time manage everything! It is crazy!”. But Juanita could do it all. She was always there for everything that went on with the girls. On the weekends, it did not stop, friends and boyfriends were always at the house and Juanita was always hosting. From making dinners enough to feed the neighborhood to out-drinking some of those who thought they could compete with her in drinking games. She became a mother to the friends and boyfriends and even to the teammates of the girls’ sports, showing up to the events with water and air-conditioned rides home for those who needed it. Planning and celebrating birthdays and holidays were always a favorite of Juanita’s. She loved more than anything to be surrounded by her family.

As her girls grew up and became independent just as she had raised them to be. Becoming hard working citizens just like she was at her jobs. Before long, Juanita had been promoted from mother to nana. She was never a prouder mom until she was informed by her oldest daughter, Litta, that she was expecting her first child and Skyler Michael was born September 21st, 2010. Juanita was so excited that she could hardly contain her excitement, when not to long afterward, her third daughter, Toshina, was also expecting her first child. Toshina’s first born, Draven Dakota Robert, was born March 27th, 2011. Approached not long afterward, her youngest child, Neva was expecting her first child and Carter Jay was born August 16th, 2012. Juanita was flying high and loving her new title as a nana, constantly asking for more grandchildren to spoil. Toshina and Neva granted her wishes, giving her more grandchildren, Toshina had her second child, Aislyn Kirsten on September 15th, 2014, and Neva had her second child, Gunner Zane on August 25th, 2016. Juanita was on top of the world. With so many grandchildren to spoil and take care of. She prided herself on being a nana, wearing clothes and jewelry that sported that she was a nana, to talking to her customers about her grandchildren.

Juanita focused herself on a career that she loved. Selling jewelry, there was hardly ever a day she did not come home with a sale on something she found while working that day. Juanita had one of the strongest work ethics ever witnessed by managers. The jewelry salesman job was not the only job that Juanita had ever impressed anyone. Her ability to multitask, get her job done and then some, as well give excellent customer service never went unnoticed. She had many customers that came to her specifically because they felt comfortable and could rely on Juanita’s honesty and opinions. Juanita also took care of her mother, Nadine, in her time of need, as a hospice worker until Nadine passed away in 2007.

Yes, Juanita did it all. From being an amazing worker to be the most amazing mother and nana. She loved to spoil her children and her grandchildren, buying them random items she would see that would remind her of them, hoard them in the closet, poor Robert, and have all her special occasion’s gifts ready months before the occasion was even close. Her kind and giving nature could never be harbored or faltered even when she was sick. Her stubborn nature kept her from missing events or work, and she could always be accounted for.

Juanita Jean Leach, age 51, passed away on August 13th, 2022 at Carson Tahoe Hospital in Carson City, Nevada due to many medical illnesses that should could not overcome. Juanita Jean Leach leaves behind her husband, Robert Jay Leach. Her four daughters, Litta Jean, Bretta Lynne’, Toshina Kirsten, and Neva Paulette, and her six grandchildren, Skyler, Draven, Aislyn, Carter, Gunner, and an unborn boy not yet officially named due in January 2023. Juanita will always be remembered by those who knew her, and she will live on through her daughters and grandchildren.