Jean Joseph LeRoy Jr.

Jean Joseph LeRoy Jr., age 59, passed away Saturday, March 11 at the Ritzville Hospital following a month-long battle with lung cancer.

The son of Jean LeRoy Sr. and Lillian (Erdman) LeRoy, Jean was born December 31, 1946 in Ritzville. He entered the U.S. Navy at age 18, serving from April 1964 to August 1970. He married Maxine Wykes, March 27, 1976 and together they raised three daughters, Marta, Rebekah and Jessica. They were divorced in 2001. LeRoy was a mechanic most of his life. He lived in Ritzville from 1979 to 2002 where he worked at "Ritzville Truck and Auto" for the Dirk's Family, then owned his own automotive repair shop in the same building for a short time. He then went on to work for Hille's Chevrolet and Parkway Chevrolet, and presently was employed at Adam's Automotive. LeRoy re-married on Oct. 9, 2004 to Laurel June Erickson, and together they lived in Lind. He then became father to six step-children and eight step-grandchildren.

He became a baptized member of Jehovah's Witnesses on Oct. 17, 1981. He was a faithful member in the Ritzville congregation up to his death.

Surviving is his wife Laurel at the home in Lind; his mother Lillian LeRoy of Othello, daughters, Marta Elizabeth VonGrey and husband Erich of Moses Lake, Rebekah Jean Denney and husband Micah of Spokane, and Jessica Ann LeRoy of Post Falls, Idaho; sisters, Valerey LeRoy-O'Neill of Ellensburg, Venus Stoner and Lori Butler both of Othello; brothers, Jerry LeRoy of Battle Mountain, Nevada and Jim LeRoy of Emida, Idaho; grandchildren Anthony Armstrong and Nicholas LeRoy.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 18 at 2 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 610 West Second Avenue, Ritzville, with David Carey officiating. Danekas Funeral Home, Ritzville, is in charge of arrangements.