John Ellis Leech, 69, of Loudon, took the hand of Jesus and went to meet his Lord early Saturday morning, Oct. 27, 2012 at his Tellico Village home.

Born Dec. 28, 1942 in Johnstown, Pa., John spent his formative years in Coraopolis, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh, where he graduated from Moon Township High. Along with being captain of the 1960 Big Ten championship football team and vice president of his high school senior class, John also was a star basketball and baseball player. He received his finance and accounting degree from Robert Morris University and then attended the University of Pittsburgh. A dedicated worker, John began his career at Neville Chemical Co. in Pittsburgh. He went on to be plant manager of Pittsburgh Gear Co. (subsidiary of Bucyrus Erie) before becoming vice president and chief operating officer in 1983 of Prager Inc., in New Orleans, La.

In 1986, John and his wife, Marianne, returned to Tennessee and settled in Tellico Village. They founded John Leech & Associates, a manufacturing rep company, which John operated until his death. A passionate “cowboy” and horse lover who loved to back country ride out West, a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers and UT sports fan, John also loved golf, skiing and traveling. Together John and Marianne found great joy in his work and their playing. Everyone, without exception, who crossed John's path met a remarkable, loyal and trusted friend.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John Frank and Mary Catherine Leech and his eldest brother, William “Bill” Leech. Along with his loving wife and best friend of 28 years, Marianne Morris Leech, he is survived by his children, William “Bill” (Becky) Leech of Halethorpe, Md., John (Beth) Leech of Phoenixville, Pa., and Diana (Nelson) Baries of Midlothian, Va.; grandchildren, Eric and Emily Bareis of Midlothian, Va., and Chloe, Sam and John Henry Leech, all of Phoenixville, Pa.; his brother, Robert “Bob” (JoAnn) Leech of Coraopolis, Pa., their children, Mary Jo, Dottie, Terry and Bobby; deceased brother's daughter, Dolly Leech Mason and Dorothy Rody Turkovich, the mother of his children. Also surviving are Marianne's brother and sister-in-law, W. Lee and Peggi Morris of Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands; nieces, Tanya (Greg) Morris Rogers, their children, Aliseit and Alanah of West Palm Beach, Fla., and LeAnn (Chris) Morris Pliske, their children, Emma and Max Ellis (John's namesake) of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; and brother-in-law, Bobby Stalcup of Tulsa, Okla.

John's family extends a gracious thank you to special and devoted family friends and caregivers, Cheri Ruth, Mike Goss, Patti Fuller, Mary McNeal, Lori Almond, Ruth Fairfax and countless others. Heartfelt gratitude is also extended to Teaha, Shelly and Greg with Amedisys Home Health & Hospice Care of Sweetwater and Drs. Ted Stallings, Jeffery Hecht and Kevin Martinolich.

A celebration of life service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 at the Community Church of Tellico Village, 130 Chota Center in Loudon. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Community Church of Tellico Village. Interment will be private at Old Gray Cemetery in Knoxville. Arrangements provided by Click Funeral Home of Tellico Village.