Kelly Dawn Leggett

Kelly Dawn Blackburn Leggett January 25, 1960 - November 8, 2021 Kelly, 61, of Cashmere, Washington, passed away unexpectedly on November 8, 2021 at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, Washington. Kelly was born to U. James (Jim) Blackburn and Yvonne (Bonnie) Louise Greenwood Blackburn on January 25, 1960 in Wenatchee, Washington. Her father was stationed with the Navy in Imperial Beach, California and she was the second daughter born while he was out on eight-month cruises. Upon discharge in 1960, the young family moved to Bozeman, Montana while Jim completed his college degree and Bonnie stayed home with children. They moved to Cashmere during the summer of 1966 to a home her family still lives in today. Kelly entered first grade at Vale Elementary. She was a happy, social child during all her schooling in Cashmere. At age eight, she and her sister, Denise, welcomed a little brother, Jeff, and the siblings enjoyed visiting Grandpa Ralph Greenwood's cherry orchard in Wenatchee, first cousins in Leavenworth, and the family cabins in Tumwater Canyon with grandparents Gramsi and Grampsi (Cal & Ovidia) Blackburn. The family participated in many activities at the United Presbyterian Church at the end of the block under the leadership of Pastor John Rogers. Kelly played girls' basketball in high school, as well as was in choir, pep club, girl's athletics club, class officer, drama, and golf. She was also a cheerleader, homecoming royalty and loved fashion and changing her hair color. Kelly worked briefly in orchards and as a soda jerk at Doane's Pharmacy. She remained close to her cherished friends of Cashmere High School's class of 1978 all her life. After high school, Kelly worked in the Frameworks framing shop in Wenatchee. She began attending Bethesda Christian Center and college, and modeled in an issue of the church's magazine. And it was there she met her husband of 41 years, Erin Leggett, a young man from Tonasket. They were married in 1980 at Christmas time in a large wedding in Monitor, Washington. They began their great adventure moving around the country and opening pizza restaurants. Soon they moved to Eugene, Oregon, then on to Amarillo, Texas. After a short stay in Wenatchee, their first daughter, Chelsea, was born in Newport, Oregon where they opened their first New York style pizza restaurant, At'sa Pizza. Kelly's lifelong careers of waitressing and being a stay-at-home mom had begun. In 1989, the family moved to Gresham, Oregon for 15 years, where they were actively involved at East Hill Foursquare Church. Kelly sang backup on the worship team and began singing prophetically over others. Daughter Jenna and son Bryce were born there, as well as another restaurant, Wall Street Pizza, with Kelly designing the restaurant's interior graphics. Albany, Oregon and Pizza Amore came next and a son, Judah. After a few years, the family returned to Washington, eventually ending up in Chelan and opening Sojourner's restaurant. There Kelly helped nurse her beloved uncle Bill in the last few weeks of his life. Then it was on to Prineville, Oregon, where Kelly enjoyed living in the country. Later they lived in Gainesville, Texas, where, on a small cattle ranch, she fell in love with cows and Texas wildlife, with the exception of the local fire ants! Kelly was employed as a substitute teacher in her son Judah's elementary school and enjoyed decorating the school library. Kelly has lived with husband and son in Cashmere in their apartment on the river for the last few years. There she so enjoyed sitting with her brother and others, posting her photos of the beautiful mountain sunsets on Facebook. A devoted mother and grandmother, she loved skyping for hours with her granddaughter Liliyah in Tennessee and raising their 14-year-old son, Judah, who was attending her childhood schools. She organized an after-school chess club and bike repair at his elementary school and, for a short time, she held a job at Martin's Subway shop in Cashmere. Kelly was an artist in many ways and was always creating beauty around her. She could just "see" what something was supposed to "be" or "look like" in her mind's eye. Kelly enjoyed decorating her many homes, especially at Christmas, once decorating eight large Christmas trees in her large home. She decorated for others at Christmas time, too, and was an expert at holding yard sales. Kelly was a gifted "picker," repurposing the beautiful vintage items she found. Kelly's creativity extended to hosting parties, photographing weddings and portraits, coloring, creating her own style of lettering, making and selling greeting cards, and even making little woodland dolls that looked like her relatives. She recently created her mother's memorial cowboy scarecrow with her father at Martin's Marketplace in Cashmere. Kelly was a gifted singer and songwriter and sang an original song about heaven at her mother's memorial in October. Kelly loved Jesus, her family, her many friends, reading aloud to her kids, drinking tea, doing puzzles, and watching the river birds and eagle's nest with binoculars. The family cabins in Tumwater Canyon spawned her love of the forest, river and woodland creatures, especially foxes. She loved autumn, and on her last trip to the cabin, she sat under a maple tree for hours letting the yellow leaves fall on her, something she said she had missed doing. Kelly was very generous and loving, giving to many people in many ways throughout her life and she had the courage to be everyone's friend. She first met Jesus through her mother in the 1970's. Later, one of her most vivid encounters with Jesus was when he stood inside her, filling her completely to her fingertips and toes until she forgot about herself completely and could see the Father in the distance through Jesus' eyes. Now she's living with Him until we all join her there. Kelly is survived by her husband, Erin Leggett; four children: Chelsea Leggett of Kansas City, MO; Jenna Leggett of San Diego, CA; Bryce (Stephanie) Leggett of Kansas City; and Judah Leggett; her father, Jim Blackburn of Cashmere, sister Denise (David) Langlois of East Wenatchee, brother Jeff Blackburn of Cashmere; and two grandchildren: Liliyah Olson of Franklin, Tennessee and Stephen Leggett of Kansas City; and her aunt Rita Baugh, uncle Cal Blackburn, and nephews, nieces and cousins. She was preceded in death by her mother Bonnie Blackburn in August, her uncles Jerry & Bill Greenwood and her aunt Arleen Blackburn. Kelly's memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Living Hope Community Church, 11 N. Chelan Avenue in Wenatchee. A dessert reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee and Cashmere.