ASHLAND, Ky. — James Howard Leibee, 74, of Ashland, died Monday, April 26, 2010, at Community Hospice Care Center.
He was born April 29, 1935 in Ashland, a son of the late William McKinley and Serena Ellen Easterling Leibee. He was retired from A.K. Steel where he worked 43 years as a crane operator. He served in the National Guard and was of the Baptist faith. He loved golf and pitching horse shoes and was on a bowling league.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lena Oney Leibee, who died in 2002; a son, William Leibee; a brother, Fred Leibee; four sisters, Mildred Lykins, Carolyn Sexton, Betty Hutchinson and Janice Mansfield and a step-son, James V. Stone.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Oney Leibee of Ashland; his former wife, Laverne Perry Cripple of Ironton, Ohio; his sons and daughters-in-law, Jonathan Wade Leibee of Ashland, James H. Leibee Jr., and his wife, Tammy of Columbus, Ohio and Kenneth Leibee and his wife, Gail of Wurtland; his daughters and sons-in-law, Denise Easterling and her husband, Rick, of Ironton, Ohio, Tammy Walker and her husband, Jerry of Coal Grove, Ohio; and Carla Brown and her husband, David of Cannonsburg; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Bob Leibee and his wife, Hazel, of Trace and Ted Leibee and his wife, Arlene, of Westwood; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Pauline Blevins and her husband, Willie of Louisa, Linda Davis and her husband, Harold, of Brunswick, Ohio, and Judy Brown and her husband, Fred of Lexington; his step-sons, Harold Stone Jr., and his wife, Harweda of Catlettsburg and Dennis Stone and his wife, Sharon of Westwood and his step-daughters, Sue Tackett and her husband, Stanley of Westwood, Francine Thomas of Cannonsburg and Angela Patton and her husband, Bert Jr., of Rush; 32 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Funeral will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Steen Funeral Home, 13th Street Chapel, with Pastors Mike Cox and Lloyd Bailey officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Burial Park. Visitation will be 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to www.steenfuneralhomes.com