Allen Reed Leech, 77, passed away on Jan. 26, 2024, at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colo., following a brief illness.
Reed was born Oct. 29, 1946, in Moab, Utah, to Dwight Leech and Elsie Mae Knight Leech. He graduated from Grand County High School in Moab, Utah in 1964. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a full-time mission to the Franco-Belgian Mission from 1966 to 1968. He was pleased that his granddaughter Juliana also served a mission in France and Belgium in 2022 and 2023. He met Elaine Shawcroft in 1970 while she was working as a schoolteacher in Moab, and they were united in marriage on Dec. 18, 1971, in the Manti Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Reed was a school bus driver for the North Conejos School District for seventeen years and was also employed by the Alamosa Post Office for many years, the job from which he retired from in 2009. He was a skilled handyman and loved fixing things and doing home projects. He loved visiting with strangers and seemed to make a friend everywhere he went. He enjoyed reading, music, movies, and photography. His pride and joy were his children and grandchildren, and he loved spending time with his family. He also loved attending the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whenever he could.
Reed is survived by his wife Elaine of La Jara; his children Seth (Elizabeth) Leech of Aurora, Colo., Gretchen (Christopher) Wilson of Aurora, Colo., and Jonathan Leech of Pueblo, Colo.; his grandchildren Eric, Juliana, Russell, Scott, and Mark Leech, and Hannah and Caitlin Wilson, all of Aurora, Colo.; as well as his sisters Linda Leech and Carolyn Stiles, both of Moab, Utah; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws.
Reed was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Donald Leech, Shirley Bailey, Rex Leech, and Mary Elizabeth Leech, and his granddaughter Sarah Victoria Leech.
A visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, from 9:30-10:45 a.m., followed by a Funeral Service 11 a.m., all at the La Jara Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in La Jara. Interment will follow services in the Sanford Cemetery. Contributions are suggested to the La Jara Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Missionary Fund.
Rogers Family Mortuary is in care of the arrangements. To leave online condolences, tributes, and words of comfort for Reed’s family, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com.
