James Jay Leyser, age 75, left to stand his post at the golden gates on November 17, 2021, at peace forevermore. He was born on August 12, 1946 in Honolulu, Hawaii where he was adopted by Mourice and Myrtle Leyser. He became a “navy brat” and traveled back and forth from California until his family settled in San Diego, California. At age 17 he entered the Marines Corps and would become a Sergeant for Aviation Crash, Fire & Rescue where he traveled to the Philippines and Japan before receiving an honorable discharge on August 19, 1971. He served a total of 8 years and 8 days. Jim would later move to Fresno, California where he would meet his wife and soul mate, Mary, at a Citizen Band Radio club dance and danced his way to marriage on April 24, 1981 to be happily married for 40 years. He would go on to have daughter Jennifer, son in law Raymond, daughter Ruth, son in law Greg, son Brian and daughter in law Christine, and daughter Vickie, and in turn gain a beautiful total of 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. James worked as a Histotechnologist at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center for a grand total of 30 years before he retired and devoted more of his time as a Commandant of the Marine Corps League, Judge Advocate to the 509 Riders, and a Commander at American Legion Post 4.
When he wasn’t joining his grandchildren at the zoo or enjoying breakfast at his favorite restaurants, James enjoyed shopping at Antique stores and will fill his house with priceless joy. He would smile as he watched his daughters and granddaughter dance at the Polynesian Club of Fresno where he took a few classes himself. James had a thrill for dangerous past times and you could catch him shooting his collection of guns at the range or riding on the wind on his cherry red motorcycle as “Flash”. He loved travelling to visit his children and their families in Alaska and Washington. He looked forward to every trip to the coast with his loving wife Mary. James lived an adventurous life and would make friends everywhere he went. He loved his family equally and loved being a Veteran.
He joins his parents, his daughter Vickie McDowel, his granddaughter Mila, and his great grandson Luca Keoni in heaven. May he rest in peace.
“Way back when at the dawn of time, in the valley of death where the sun don’t shine. The toughest fighter ever known was made from a M-16 and a live grenade. He was a mean lean fighting machine who proudly bore the title U.S. Marine.”
A visitation for James will be held Sunday, November 28, 2021 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. A funeral service will occur Monday, November 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM at American Legion Post 509, 3509 N First St., Fresno, California 93726.
Contributions in James' memory may be made to Toys for Tots, https://fresno.toysfortots.org/.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Leyser family.
