Jack Kline Leatherman, Jr. grew up swimming and playing baseball under the Florida sunshine. Born in 1929 and the only child of Jack Sr. and Martha Louise, Jack’s childhood was filled with music and exploration of Florida’s abundant wetlands. In high school, Jack’s sports repertoire expanded and he excelled in the language arts. His early passions persisted throughout his life.
Jack’s time in the US Navy stationed him at Ault Field, Whidbey Island. He attended Western Washington University. He met and married Marilyn Grace Hanich. They settled in Marysville, Washington, in a home that nurtured the childhoods of six children. Jack dedicated 23 years of his life to teaching in the Lake Stevens School District–former students of his are still touched by the stern but caring wisdom he imparted decades ago. After his retirement he continued his devotion to the legacy of future generations through volunteering and investing fully in the lives of his grandchildren. Many days were spent enjoying the fruits of his labor at the family lake house keeping his ever-growing family connected.
For all of his life, Jack was an avid and prolific collector of everyday trivia and ephemera: baseball cards, stamps, polished rocks, coins, newspapers, stories (both oral and written), sports statistics, golf bags and tennis balls… you name it, Jack had it or knew it. He was a well-known figure in the Marysville community: Jack donated an impressive 61 pints of blood, volunteered as a reading buddy to young children at a local elementary school, was an important member at Trinity Lutheran Church, and a regular at thrift shops where he searched for additions to his favorite collections. He had an infamous sweet tooth and a voracious appetite for reading. Jack held deep loyalties to his beloved Florida Gators, the University of Washington Huskies, the Seattle Mariners and his family. In his final years, though remembering and communicating grew difficult, Jack’s smile when seeing family members or reminiscing about his Florida childhood was always bright.
Jack passed with many of his family close by on the afternoon of January 14th, 2022. He joined his parents, his daughter Cheryl, son-in-law Randy and grandson Kale. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marilyn; his children Ainsley, Bruce, Neil, Rachel, and Russ; their spouses; his 12 grandchildren and their spouses; (soon to be) seven great grandchildren; and all the lives he touched along the way. He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” Philippians 1:3
The family encourages others to honor Jack’s memory and extend his legacy with donations to either Bloodworks Northwest or the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.
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