Carolyn “Carrie” Leech passed away on December 14, 2023 at the age of 89. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 1:00PM from the chapel of the Taylor Funeral Home. The visitation will be on Thursday beginning at 11:00AM until the time of service. Burial will follow in the Leech Cemetery.
I would describe my mother as courageous, kind, caring, and giving.
At 17, she courageously left her hometown which was a small farming community in Nebraska to marry my dad who was from Charlotte, TN. The two of them came south and were married 71 years until my dad’s death this past March.
She traveled to all but 4 states in the U.S. as well as Canada and Mexico. She took flying lessons from my dad and flew solo in a single engine airplane at the age 39. She graduated from Columbia State Community College and MTSU (Magna Cum Laude for both).
She worked most of her married life and held a variety of jobs. Her favorites were working for a television station (WOWL) in North Alabama, teaching ballroom dancing at the once famous Arthur Murray’s studio, and running her own successful sign business until retirement, called “The Letter Perfect Shop”.
She loved her family and engaged in genealogy for both hers and my dad’s families. She wrote a tri-yearly newsletter for over 30 years that served to help her family understand it’s history and she also helped plan family reunions in different parts of the country each year.
She wrote 3 books. Two, of which, she published herself. One was about her family’s genealogy and the other was about her and my dad’s life.
She loved to sing, write poetry, and played the piano. She was a long-time member of the daughters of Union Veterans) and was very proud of her 2 grandfathers who served in the civil war. She loved her country.
She started a stock investment club called “Centsible Ladies” and served as its first president. She invested in many notable stocks and purchased rental properties. Among her most distinguished properties was (or is) a condo in Gulf Shores on the beach, a downtown rooming house in Mobile, Alabama, a quadraplex in Murfreesboro, TN, and her and daddy’s dream home in Mt. Pleasant which they built together out of hewn logs on 15+ acres in Mt. Pleasant, TN.
Living as a Christian was of life-long importance to her. She gave her whole heart to God, her family, and others. She showed compassion and charity to anyone in need and regularly supported a number of non-profit organizations. She dealt so fairly with her tenants, at times, it was to her detriment.
One thing she taught me was to never judge anyone. She said if I was inclined to judge someone, then first to walk 10 miles in their shoes. Then if still inclined, to turn around and walk another 10.
Even though she succeeded in many accomplishments, she would have never written such things about herself. Therefore, I am more than proud to share them with you now and more than honored to be called her daughter.
My mother was preceded in death by her husband and our dad (George) and her parents (Henry and Hilda Caswell). She is survived by her two children Bethany Malugin (Tim) and Bruce Leech (Angie). Bethany’s children: Jesse Rockwell, Micaiah Rockwell (Marjorie), and Brittany Malugin Carlton (Paul) (step). Bruce’s children: Donna Boatright (Glenn) and Stacy Leech. Great-grandchildren in order by age: Tyler Boatright (step), Levi Boatright (step), Silas Jordan, Sawyer Jordan, Caiden Muhlgeier, Ethan Rockwell, Miles Carlton (step), Julian Rockwell, Tristan Rockwell, and Josie Gray. She is also survived by her 2 adoring sisters: Catherine Mckiddy and Charlotte Aspegren (both of Nebraska).
Written by: Bethany A. [Leech] Malugin
