Nancy Ann Leisure

Nancy Riesch Leisure, 93, died peacefully January 15, 2016, with her family by her side.  The youngest of three sisters, she was born February 11, 1922 in Portland, OR to Joseph and Anne (Hochuli) Riesch.

A life-long Portland resident, she graduated from Washington High School where she was active in school drama productions, playing the lead in ‘As You Like It’ and serving as queen of the MAC Club’s ‘Junior Festival.’  She was also active in Camp Fire Girls and loved spending time at Camp Namanu as both a camper and counsellor.

She went on to attend the University of Oregon, where she was very active in the Pi Beta Phi sorority and student affairs, becoming student body Vice President her senior year.  After graduation, she headed to San Francisco where she worked for a corporate law firm, married George Rossiter and had two children.  She also worked part-time for the first personal colorist to start typing men and women according to seasons (spring, summer, fall and winter) which involved a good deal of travel.

Nancy moved back to Portland in 1952, eventually divorced and became a single mom raising two children – quite an anomaly in those days.  She went to work as Executive Secretary for Wade Newbegin at RM Wade & Co. in 1959.  He was leery about hiring a divorcee, thinking she would just find a man and leave the job.  Well, just as he thought, she did leave – 27 years later.

She was very active in Camp Fire Girls and Little League with the kids and even learned to score the games.  Years later, Little League would again become a big part of her life when her grandson began to play.

Being a single mom in those days was not easy and quite uncommon.  For many years, she actually worked a second ‘evening’ job at the Irvington Tennis Club to make ends meet and provide for her family.  She knew Ev Leisure through the tennis club, and when they got together in 1975, it took just three dates for him to propose.  Through this happy union, she acquired another son and daughter, David and Sally, and subsequently five grandchildren, Michelle, Adam, Martha, Amanda and Alex.

Ev and Nancy very much enjoyed their family, playing bridge, dancing and tennis, having many good times at their condo in Palm Desert and with friends at Black Butte and Ashland.  And there was lots and lots of travel - from Europe to Panama to Alaska to Canada and much more.  Her special favorite trips included visits to relatives in Hugelfing, Germany, even though they spoke no English!  Sadly, we lost Ev in 1994, but his memory will live on forever and we know he is with us watching over her.

Nancy went on to be a charter resident of the Courtyard Village, an independent senior living home in Raleigh Hills where she remained for 15 years.  She lived a busy and productive life, being very active in the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Broadmoor Women’s Club, Pi Beta Phi Alum group and several bridge clubs.  In fact, she was still driving her car and playing bridge right up to November when she became ill.

Preceded in death by her husband, Everett Leisure, and two sisters, JoAnne Clarke and Betty Polen, Nancy is survived by her son Cameron Rossiter; daughter Lynn Myhra and husband Arnie; step-daughter Sally Leisure; step-son David Leisure and wife Kelli; 4 nieces and 1 nephew; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

At her request, no service will be held.  Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 1270, Carnation WA 98014 in care of her daughter.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cottey College (owned by the P.E.O Sisterhood), 1000 W. Austin Blvd., Nevada, MO 64772 (www.cottey.edu) or Albertina Kerr Center, 424 NE 22nd Ave., Portland, OR 97232 (www.albertinakerr.org).

Rest in peace, dear mother.  Your memory will live on inside us all forever.