Jacqueline Ann (McGurn) Leete

Jacqueline (Jackie) Ann McGurn Leete, age 81, a long-time resident of Beavercreek, OH; formerly of North Bennington and Bennington, VT passed away on January 10, 2025 at Hospice of Dayton. Born on April 8, 1943 in Bennington, VT. She was the daughter of the late James Raymond Sr. and Caroline White McGurn. She initially lived and went to grammar school in North Bennington, VT and finished her grammar school education at St. Francis de Sales Academy when her parents moved to Bennington. She graduated from Bennington Catholic High School in 1961 and entered Jeanne Mance School of Nursing at The Bishop DeGoesbriand Hospital in Burlington, VT where she graduated in 1964 with an RN diploma in Nursing. She started her nursing career at Putnam Memorial Hospital in Bennington in 1964.

On 18 July 1964 she married the love of her life, Edward (Ed) Michael Leete of Bennington, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Bennington. In January 1965 she moved with Ed to Valdosta, GA where he entered active duty and pilot training at Moody AFB, GA; completing pilot training in February 1996 and supporting him in starting and finishing a United States Air Force career that lasted over 26 years and included 19 stateside and overseas assignments. During the first part of their 26 year Air Force career she gave birth to four children, a son Dennis Michael Leete born at Moody AFB in 1965, two boys who died at childbirth and a daughter Debra Johanna Leete born at England AFB, Alexandria, LA in 1970. She was a loving wife and mother who spent her life supporting her husband and raising and loving their children while her husband was often away from home on duty. During her husband’s 26-year service she was a member of numerous Officer’s Wife Clubs and other support organizations at various Air Force Bases and helped to support and educate young airmen and officer’s wives into the military life. She continued in updating her nursing education and worked at John F. Kennedy Hospital in Cherry Hill, NJ and Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, OH.

When Jackie’s husband returned to civilian life she decided to leave the nursing field and go into retail. She initially went to work for Elder Beerman at their Fairborn store and then at the Fairfield Commons store. She then joined Gymboree until she retired in 2015.

Jackie was a loving wife to her husband; and a loving mother to her son Dennis and daughter Debra, a joyful and loving grandmother/great grandmother to 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She loved spending time with her family, family dogs, and thoroughly enjoyed bird watching, decorating her home and yard and travel to visit family and friends. Jackie also enjoyed her many years and friends on the Wright-Patterson AFB Ladies Golf League. She and Ed were long-time members of St. Helen and St. Luke’s Catholic Churches.

Jackie is preceded in death by her father and mother of Bennington, VT and her sister Carol McGurn Coulter of Shaftsbury, VT and is survived by her brother James R McGurn Jr, of Colchester, VT her loving husband of 63 years, Edward Michael Leete of Beavercreek, OH; her son Dennis Michael and partner in life Kelly Dorey of Deming, WA; her daughter and son-in-law Debra Johanna (Leete) Hollis and Jerahd K. Hollis of Leesburg, VA.; and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joanne Leete Racicot and Timothy R. Racicot of the Villages, FL.; 11 grandchildren: Jacob and Ashli, Abigail and Stephen, Joanna and Hannah, John, Joseph, Kevin, Johanna, and Katherine; four great grandchildren; Bear Michael, Reagan “Poppy”, Annie, and Penny James and numerous other family members and friends.