Ken was born in Seattle, WA to Elmer Leader, a prominent Seattle Attorney and Evelyn Rosaaen Leader, a teacher and homemaker. He attended John Marshall Junior High and Roosevelt High School. During his younger years he loved to spend time in California with his aunts and uncles and cousins. He liked interacting with them and they loved having him there to share time and experiences with them.
WWII started and prior to graduation Ken enlisted in the US Coast Guard in January 1945. Discharged in May 1946 he obtained his HS Diploma and entered University of Washington and enjoyed some of the best days of his life. He pledged Psi Upsilon Fraternity and served 3 years as Program Chair planning great parties and dances.
Graduation was followed by a 30 year teaching career of which 29 were spent at Highland High School in Cowiche, WA, where "Mr. Leader" touched the lives of so many students. He taught history, geography and English. And as the Activities Director, he organized all kinds of school events, bus trips and field trips exposing students to WA. He brought new meaning to school dances as Highland dances were coveted by students all over the Yakima Valley. He managed the equipment and played the records.
When he retired at age 55, he took his Ken Leader Top 40 dance music to the Yakima community by entertaining at countless parties, weddings, reunions and events. His music business is still alive today. He loved his students and they still revere him. Until several weeks ago, he regularly joined them for weekly coffee get togethers.
Ken had many interests. As a child he was always creative and loved to have fun with his friends. As an adult, he enjoyed spending time seeing movies, musicals, dancing, going to nice restaurants, and finding a good wine for a good price. He was a collector and loved nosing around second hand stores looking for that certain something that would catch his eye. He loved water of all kinds, ocean, pools, hot tubs and lakes. He was a longtime member of the WA Athletic Club in Seattle.
Alone or with others he traveled extensively throughout his lifetime. He loved going to the National Parks and in particular loved Yosemite and Zion. He always had a camera in his pocket and brought the history and beauty back to share. He had hundreds of slide presentations.
As a college student, he and fraternity buddies launched out in his Red Ford Convertible to see the country and included was time with his Uncle (father's twin brother) and Aunt in Connecticut to get to know them and his cousins there. It began a lifetime rich relationship with the family that continues today.
He was a conservative and a leader in Young Republicans in Yakima. He respected President Reagan and was thrilled to be able to attend his inauguration and then share his experiences back home. He loved this country.
His beloved cabin (Kenwood) is located at Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest. His parents purchased it in 1926 prior to Ken's birth. As a boy he spent time there with his family, enjoyed time there in college and later regularly brought friends and family to ski at Crystal Mountain or for holiday celebrations where he cooked and just shared the beauty of the trees and Mt. Rainier, especially Sunrise.
After his retirement he became very active in the White River Recreation Association (WRRA.) serving in leadership roles including President as his father had before him. Planning activities for the cabin owners and making improvements that made a difference for the cabin program were always in his sights. He was a longtime member of National Forest Homeowners (NFH.) He was instrumental in forming the Washington State Forest Homeowners (WSFHA,)
He spent time on the road in the winter visiting ski slopes around the Northwest and California and Canada. He has been a longtime member of St. Michaels Episcopal Church in Yakima WA.
Those who knew him appreciated his smile and laugh. He was who he was strong, unpretentious, principled, sincere, loyal, and a "leader." A saying on his mirror above his bar at the cabin is "Leaders do not come in flocks, they come one at a time."
His parents, his brothers, Jimmy and Douglas, uncles and aunts and all first and some second cousins, many childhood, high school and college friends, teacher colleagues, and some students have preceded him in death.
He is survived by his girlfriend, Rena Irwin, her daughter Danna Blattmann, very close friend, Fred Orton, and cousins, Bill and Chris Masterson. Dan and Janet Eichnor, Rick and Liz Rosaaen, Barbara and Nick Walker, Lee Goss, Dirck and Liz Goss, Edwin Goss, George and Maureen Goss, Kathy and Ron Hayes, Chris Seifert and John Siefert, niece Janet Leader, nephew, Tom Leader and Christina, and the children of the above, the graduates (his kids) of Highland High school and sp many friends whom he has met along the road of life.
We will always love you and you remain in our hearts.
Visitation is planned for Thursday, January 3, 2019 from 2:00-7:00PM at Brookside Funeral Home (500 W. Prospect, Moxee, WA). The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, January 4, 2019 at 11:00 AM at St. Michaels Episcopal Mission Church (5 South Naches Avenue, Yakima WA), with a Reception to follow at 1:00 PM at Gasperetti's Restaurant (1013 N 1st St Yakima WA). A Family Graveside Service at Acacia Cemetery in Seattle will be held at a later date. Memorial Contributions may be made to honor his desire to provide Scholarship Assistance to Highland High school students wishing to attend University of Washington. Send donations payable to Ken Leader HH Scholarship Fund - WA Apple Education Foundation, in care of Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA 98936), who is caring for the family.
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