PlainDealer-Sun.com 26 Oct 2011 Wednesday
'Doc' Leake was prominent businessman
A chiropractor who practiced in North Vernon for 35 years and was one of the leading businessmen in Jennings County, Dr. Francis Gerald "Doc" Leake, 79, died at 1:09 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at Norton's Hospital in Louisville, Ky. He had been ill for several weeks.
Dr. Leake and his family moved to North Vernon in 1961. Thus began a 50-year love affair with his adopted hometown.
"Doc was great guy," said John Roche, a Jennings County attorney. "Everyone knew him as Doc. Only his wife called him Jerry."
Rose Leake, Dr. Leake's wife of nearly 60 years, said her husband loved the community.
"North Vernon was a wonderful place to raise a family," Rose said. "Jerry and I met so many good people here. When we came here, we didn't have two nickels to rub together. So many people helped Jerry get started in North Vernon."
The late Rev. Omer Eisenman, pastor of St. Mary's Church then, also encouraged Dr. Leake to move here when he was looking for a location closer to Louisville where he was raised.
Dr. Leake, who spent the first three years of his professional career at Pine Bluff, Ark., opened his first chiropractor's office in North Vernon on Buckeye Street where the Olde Towne Centre is now located, with assistance from local businessmen Joe Caradonna, Ed Auerswald and Dudley Childs.
Dr. Leake then moved his clinic to the Just-Rite Building on Norris Avenue after meeting Delbert Hauersperger and Paul Cardinal, who constructed the building that housed his facility as well as a grocery store for years. Later, Leake had a new clinic built on North Highway 7 that is now Jennings County Chiropractic. Leake, who practiced for 25 years in Austin in addition to North Vernon, retired in 1993.
In his spare time, Dr. Leake was an avid golfer and was among the best at the then-Muscatatuck Country Club course, now Ford's Crossing, where he continued to play the game until this year. He recorded several holes-in-one there and at other courses.
At his Norris Avenue home, Dr. Leake had a full basketball court that was open to all and encouraged youngsters in the sport, often playing hoops with them. The pond then in front of his house was also a favorite spot for youth during the winter when it froze and was in essence North Vernon's ice skating rink. Dr. Leake would build bonfires so youth could warm themselves.
"Ethel Burk used to always tell Jerry, 'Doc, you will never know how many kids you keep out of trouble with your basketball court,'" Rose recalled.
In later years, Dr. Leake was a world traveler with his wife, conquering all 50 states, as well as four continents. He took up oil and acrylic painting at 74 years of age and was a prolific painter.
"We donated his eyes (through the organ donor program)," Rose said. "Jerry always had unbelievable eyesight with 20-20 vision and beautiful blue eyes. He was a healer for 38 years (as a chiropractor), so we thought that was appropriate."
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service. Rosary will be at 3:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Jonathan Meyer officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Dr. Leake was a graduate of St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky., and received his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, in 1958.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he was one of the first lecturers and eucharistic ministers. He was the first PTO president at St. Mary's Catholic School and a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractic Association. He was an honorary Kentucky Colonel. He was a diehard University of Kentucky basketball fan all of his life.
Born on July 26, 1932, in Dant, Ky., he was the son of Jimmy and Aline Mattingly Leake. He was raised by his uncle and aunt, Hood and Gertrude Borders. He married Rose Marie Carrico on Feb. 9, 1952. She survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Cindy Paswater and Shari Leake, both of North Vernon, and Sandra Gregory of Liberty; a son, Dr. Gary Leake of Burlington, Ky.; six grandchildren, Travis and Shanyn Leake, Dr. Eric and Dr. Adam Davis, Cindel Paswater and Jacob Gregory; two great-grandchildren, Sierra and Mason Leake; and three sisters, Libby Palmer, Pat Roth and Janette Brown, all of Louisville, Ky.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his aunt and uncle who raised him; a grandson, Zach Gregory; and a brother, James Leake.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society or St. Mary's School Project Share.
'Doc' Leake was prominent businessman
A chiropractor who practiced in North Vernon for 35 years and was one of the leading businessmen in Jennings County, Dr. Francis Gerald "Doc" Leake, 79, died at 1:09 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at Norton's Hospital in Louisville, Ky. He had been ill for several weeks.
Dr. Leake and his family moved to North Vernon in 1961. Thus began a 50-year love affair with his adopted hometown.
"Doc was great guy," said John Roche, a Jennings County attorney. "Everyone knew him as Doc. Only his wife called him Jerry."
Rose Leake, Dr. Leake's wife of nearly 60 years, said her husband loved the community.
"North Vernon was a wonderful place to raise a family," Rose said. "Jerry and I met so many good people here. When we came here, we didn't have two nickels to rub together. So many people helped Jerry get started in North Vernon."
The late Rev. Omer Eisenman, pastor of St. Mary's Church then, also encouraged Dr. Leake to move here when he was looking for a location closer to Louisville where he was raised.
Dr. Leake, who spent the first three years of his professional career at Pine Bluff, Ark., opened his first chiropractor's office in North Vernon on Buckeye Street where the Olde Towne Centre is now located, with assistance from local businessmen Joe Caradonna, Ed Auerswald and Dudley Childs.
Dr. Leake then moved his clinic to the Just-Rite Building on Norris Avenue after meeting Delbert Hauersperger and Paul Cardinal, who constructed the building that housed his facility as well as a grocery store for years. Later, Leake had a new clinic built on North Highway 7 that is now Jennings County Chiropractic. Leake, who practiced for 25 years in Austin in addition to North Vernon, retired in 1993.
In his spare time, Dr. Leake was an avid golfer and was among the best at the then-Muscatatuck Country Club course, now Ford's Crossing, where he continued to play the game until this year. He recorded several holes-in-one there and at other courses.
At his Norris Avenue home, Dr. Leake had a full basketball court that was open to all and encouraged youngsters in the sport, often playing hoops with them. The pond then in front of his house was also a favorite spot for youth during the winter when it froze and was in essence North Vernon's ice skating rink. Dr. Leake would build bonfires so youth could warm themselves.
"Ethel Burk used to always tell Jerry, 'Doc, you will never know how many kids you keep out of trouble with your basketball court,'" Rose recalled.
In later years, Dr. Leake was a world traveler with his wife, conquering all 50 states, as well as four continents. He took up oil and acrylic painting at 74 years of age and was a prolific painter.
"We donated his eyes (through the organ donor program)," Rose said. "Jerry always had unbelievable eyesight with 20-20 vision and beautiful blue eyes. He was a healer for 38 years (as a chiropractor), so we thought that was appropriate."
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service. Rosary will be at 3:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Jonathan Meyer officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Dr. Leake was a graduate of St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky., and received his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, in 1958.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he was one of the first lecturers and eucharistic ministers. He was the first PTO president at St. Mary's Catholic School and a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractic Association. He was an honorary Kentucky Colonel. He was a diehard University of Kentucky basketball fan all of his life.
Born on July 26, 1932, in Dant, Ky., he was the son of Jimmy and Aline Mattingly Leake. He was raised by his uncle and aunt, Hood and Gertrude Borders. He married Rose Marie Carrico on Feb. 9, 1952. She survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Cindy Paswater and Shari Leake, both of North Vernon, and Sandra Gregory of Liberty; a son, Dr. Gary Leake of Burlington, Ky.; six grandchildren, Travis and Shanyn Leake, Dr. Eric and Dr. Adam Davis, Cindel Paswater and Jacob Gregory; two great-grandchildren, Sierra and Mason Leake; and three sisters, Libby Palmer, Pat Roth and Janette Brown, all of Louisville, Ky.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his aunt and uncle who raised him; a grandson, Zach Gregory; and a brother, James Leake.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society or St. Mary's School Project Share.
PlainDealer-Sun.com 26 Oct 2011 Wednesday
'Doc' Leake was prominent businessman
A chiropractor who practiced in North Vernon for 35 years and was one of the leading businessmen in Jennings County, Dr. Francis Gerald "Doc" Leake, 79, died at 1:09 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at Norton's Hospital in Louisville, Ky. He had been ill for several weeks.
Dr. Leake and his family moved to North Vernon in 1961. Thus began a 50-year love affair with his adopted hometown.
"Doc was great guy," said John Roche, a Jennings County attorney. "Everyone knew him as Doc. Only his wife called him Jerry."
Rose Leake, Dr. Leake's wife of nearly 60 years, said her husband loved the community.
"North Vernon was a wonderful place to raise a family," Rose said. "Jerry and I met so many good people here. When we came here, we didn't have two nickels to rub together. So many people helped Jerry get started in North Vernon."
The late Rev. Omer Eisenman, pastor of St. Mary's Church then, also encouraged Dr. Leake to move here when he was looking for a location closer to Louisville where he was raised.
Dr. Leake, who spent the first three years of his professional career at Pine Bluff, Ark., opened his first chiropractor's office in North Vernon on Buckeye Street where the Olde Towne Centre is now located, with assistance from local businessmen Joe Caradonna, Ed Auerswald and Dudley Childs.
Dr. Leake then moved his clinic to the Just-Rite Building on Norris Avenue after meeting Delbert Hauersperger and Paul Cardinal, who constructed the building that housed his facility as well as a grocery store for years. Later, Leake had a new clinic built on North Highway 7 that is now Jennings County Chiropractic. Leake, who practiced for 25 years in Austin in addition to North Vernon, retired in 1993.
In his spare time, Dr. Leake was an avid golfer and was among the best at the then-Muscatatuck Country Club course, now Ford's Crossing, where he continued to play the game until this year. He recorded several holes-in-one there and at other courses.
At his Norris Avenue home, Dr. Leake had a full basketball court that was open to all and encouraged youngsters in the sport, often playing hoops with them. The pond then in front of his house was also a favorite spot for youth during the winter when it froze and was in essence North Vernon's ice skating rink. Dr. Leake would build bonfires so youth could warm themselves.
"Ethel Burk used to always tell Jerry, 'Doc, you will never know how many kids you keep out of trouble with your basketball court,'" Rose recalled.
In later years, Dr. Leake was a world traveler with his wife, conquering all 50 states, as well as four continents. He took up oil and acrylic painting at 74 years of age and was a prolific painter.
"We donated his eyes (through the organ donor program)," Rose said. "Jerry always had unbelievable eyesight with 20-20 vision and beautiful blue eyes. He was a healer for 38 years (as a chiropractor), so we thought that was appropriate."
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service. Rosary will be at 3:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Jonathan Meyer officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Dr. Leake was a graduate of St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky., and received his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, in 1958.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he was one of the first lecturers and eucharistic ministers. He was the first PTO president at St. Mary's Catholic School and a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractic Association. He was an honorary Kentucky Colonel. He was a diehard University of Kentucky basketball fan all of his life.
Born on July 26, 1932, in Dant, Ky., he was the son of Jimmy and Aline Mattingly Leake. He was raised by his uncle and aunt, Hood and Gertrude Borders. He married Rose Marie Carrico on Feb. 9, 1952. She survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Cindy Paswater and Shari Leake, both of North Vernon, and Sandra Gregory of Liberty; a son, Dr. Gary Leake of Burlington, Ky.; six grandchildren, Travis and Shanyn Leake, Dr. Eric and Dr. Adam Davis, Cindel Paswater and Jacob Gregory; two great-grandchildren, Sierra and Mason Leake; and three sisters, Libby Palmer, Pat Roth and Janette Brown, all of Louisville, Ky.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his aunt and uncle who raised him; a grandson, Zach Gregory; and a brother, James Leake.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society or St. Mary's School Project Share.
'Doc' Leake was prominent businessman
A chiropractor who practiced in North Vernon for 35 years and was one of the leading businessmen in Jennings County, Dr. Francis Gerald "Doc" Leake, 79, died at 1:09 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at Norton's Hospital in Louisville, Ky. He had been ill for several weeks.
Dr. Leake and his family moved to North Vernon in 1961. Thus began a 50-year love affair with his adopted hometown.
"Doc was great guy," said John Roche, a Jennings County attorney. "Everyone knew him as Doc. Only his wife called him Jerry."
Rose Leake, Dr. Leake's wife of nearly 60 years, said her husband loved the community.
"North Vernon was a wonderful place to raise a family," Rose said. "Jerry and I met so many good people here. When we came here, we didn't have two nickels to rub together. So many people helped Jerry get started in North Vernon."
The late Rev. Omer Eisenman, pastor of St. Mary's Church then, also encouraged Dr. Leake to move here when he was looking for a location closer to Louisville where he was raised.
Dr. Leake, who spent the first three years of his professional career at Pine Bluff, Ark., opened his first chiropractor's office in North Vernon on Buckeye Street where the Olde Towne Centre is now located, with assistance from local businessmen Joe Caradonna, Ed Auerswald and Dudley Childs.
Dr. Leake then moved his clinic to the Just-Rite Building on Norris Avenue after meeting Delbert Hauersperger and Paul Cardinal, who constructed the building that housed his facility as well as a grocery store for years. Later, Leake had a new clinic built on North Highway 7 that is now Jennings County Chiropractic. Leake, who practiced for 25 years in Austin in addition to North Vernon, retired in 1993.
In his spare time, Dr. Leake was an avid golfer and was among the best at the then-Muscatatuck Country Club course, now Ford's Crossing, where he continued to play the game until this year. He recorded several holes-in-one there and at other courses.
At his Norris Avenue home, Dr. Leake had a full basketball court that was open to all and encouraged youngsters in the sport, often playing hoops with them. The pond then in front of his house was also a favorite spot for youth during the winter when it froze and was in essence North Vernon's ice skating rink. Dr. Leake would build bonfires so youth could warm themselves.
"Ethel Burk used to always tell Jerry, 'Doc, you will never know how many kids you keep out of trouble with your basketball court,'" Rose recalled.
In later years, Dr. Leake was a world traveler with his wife, conquering all 50 states, as well as four continents. He took up oil and acrylic painting at 74 years of age and was a prolific painter.
"We donated his eyes (through the organ donor program)," Rose said. "Jerry always had unbelievable eyesight with 20-20 vision and beautiful blue eyes. He was a healer for 38 years (as a chiropractor), so we thought that was appropriate."
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sawyer-Pickett Funeral & Cremation Service. Rosary will be at 3:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Jonathan Meyer officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Dr. Leake was a graduate of St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky., and received his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, in 1958.
He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where he was one of the first lecturers and eucharistic ministers. He was the first PTO president at St. Mary's Catholic School and a member of the Knights of Columbus, the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractic Association. He was an honorary Kentucky Colonel. He was a diehard University of Kentucky basketball fan all of his life.
Born on July 26, 1932, in Dant, Ky., he was the son of Jimmy and Aline Mattingly Leake. He was raised by his uncle and aunt, Hood and Gertrude Borders. He married Rose Marie Carrico on Feb. 9, 1952. She survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Cindy Paswater and Shari Leake, both of North Vernon, and Sandra Gregory of Liberty; a son, Dr. Gary Leake of Burlington, Ky.; six grandchildren, Travis and Shanyn Leake, Dr. Eric and Dr. Adam Davis, Cindel Paswater and Jacob Gregory; two great-grandchildren, Sierra and Mason Leake; and three sisters, Libby Palmer, Pat Roth and Janette Brown, all of Louisville, Ky.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his aunt and uncle who raised him; a grandson, Zach Gregory; and a brother, James Leake.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society or St. Mary's School Project Share.
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