Kristie Ellen

of Delta Township, Lansing, MichiganChose quality of life over medical treatment for fourth bout of breast cancer in eight years. She died January 21st. Her mother died of breast cancer at the age of 37, Kristie was five.

Kristie loved words, handwritten letters, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, reading the newspaper. She especially enjoyed helping those who helped themselves, rain, the color fuchsia, and spur-of-the-moment fun. Her true passion was dancing.

Born June 6th, 1947, Kristie was a 1965 graduate of Reed City High School and a business graduate of Ferris State University. She retired from the State of Michigan in 2001. She was a member of the Reed City and Grand Ledge Congregational churches, and friend of the Hersey Congregational Church and Sycamore Creek Methodist Church of Lansing.

Kristie is survived by sons and families, Jeffrey (Jenny) Husby of Macomb and Jonathon (Alyssa) Husby of Dearborn and her five grandchildren Bradley, William, Andersen, Natalie and Noah. She is also survived by her father, Ferris Leach of Hersey; siblings Jack (Chris) Wilson of Virginia, Judy (Jack) Hays of Big Rapids, Bonnie (Len) Gawron of Muskegon, and Sally (Barry) Meier of Marysville. Also special in her life are Geri Burnett, friend and medical advocate; Billie Ann Albright, cousin deemed sister; Greg (Jean) Husby, ex-husband and friend; Robert ?Pat? Patterson, friend and 3-year caregiver; loving neighbors who were her Lansing family; and cats City Kitty and Olive Oyl. Preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy (Pontz) Leach, step-mother, Jean (McKinley) Leach, brother Mark ?Toby? Leach, and Zane Grey kitty.

Visitation is 2-4 PM, 6-8 PM on Thursday and 10-11AM on Friday at Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw, Lansing 48917. The Celebration of Life will be at 11AM at Tiffany Funeral Home with Pastor Barb Flory of Sycamore Creek Church. Interment at Hersey Valley Cemetery Leach family plot, between her mother and grandfather on Saturday at 11AM. Kristie is laid to rest, per her wishes, in a simple, white knotty-pine coffin hand-crafted by Joe Coblentz, Amish casket maker, from Ovid, Michigan.

Memorials are encouraged to 1) Sparrow Foundation - Cancer Center or Hospice House 1110 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48909-7980 or to 2) 2008 Susan G. Koman 3-Day Walk for the Cure (second year team formed by son Jon) at Breast Cancer 3-Day, P.O. Box 650543, Dallas, TX 75265-0543 (Walker ID 1432902).

Kristie died as she lived life, as displayed on her tombstone, ?Here Lies a Kind Woman?.