John Thomas Leasure

A celebration of life for John Thomas Leasure, 76, Lawrence will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at Arterra Event Gallery, 2161 Quail Creek Drive, in Lawrence. Private family inurnment will be held at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Topeka. Tom passed away Saturday, July 25, 2015 at The Windsor of Lawrence.

Tom was born May 30, 1939 in Lawrence, KS, the son of Dr. Thomas Joy and Eugenia Cora (Lauck) Leasure.

Tom graduated from Lawrence High School in the class of 1957 and attended Kansas State University. He was president of the Jayhawk Kennel Club and a member of the Douglas County Trail Riders Association. He enjoyed trail riding, especially with the Indian Nations Trail Ride in Oklahoma. He took bowling seriously and participated in a league for many years. Tom was an enthusiastic world traveler (his favorite trip to Japan), an avid photographer and lover of technology. A gentle soul with a special connection to animals, he held dear his horse, Smokey, his champion Brittany spaniel, Monte, and his cats, Gertrude and Skillethead. But family and friends were by far his greatest love, and it showed in his most appropriate card choices.

Tom was proud to work for the State of Kansas, first as an engineering technician for KDOT, and later for KU Facilities Services.

Survivors include one sister, Eugenia Bryan and her partner, Leo Shaw, Lawrence; four nieces, Lauren Sullivan and her partner, Scott Splawn, Genie Sullivan, Martha Joy Sullivan, all of Lawrence, and Connie Roguski, Hiratsuka, Japan; nephew, Kevin Sullivan, Hiratsuka, Japan; grand-nephew, Rowan Cook, Lawrence; grand-niece, Mika Sullivan, Hiratsuka, Japan; steadfast and loyal friends, Kim and Kirk McCool, Sulphur, LA. He also leaves behind many extended family members and friends, including LHS classmates and those in the Babcock Place community.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Tom’s caretakers at Brookdale of Overland Park, Medicalodges Eudora, The Windsor of Lawrence and Midland Hospice Care.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Lawrence Humane Society and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.