Dessie Leighton
Rockledge
Dessie Lee Leighton, 94, passed away on Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Rockledge, FL. She was born in Graves County, KY on August 20, 1917 to George and Daisy Heathcote. She was the youngest of seven children.
The family then moved to Evansville, IN and Dessie attended Catholic school. She graduated from Academy Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, IN in 1935.
Dessie married Oliver Wendell Leighton, Indiana State Trooper, in 1939. They had three children: Patrick Leighton, Rockledge, FL; Robert Leighton, Costa Mesa, CA, and Kerin Leighton Bennett, Rockledge, FL. She had four grandchildren: Jennifer Mackiewicz, Port St. John, FL; James and Brandon Leighton, Costa Mesa, CA, and Scott Posey (deceased). She had two great grandchildren: Nicholas and Nathan Mackiewicz, Port St. John, FL.
Dessie and Ollie moved to Brevard County, FL in 1969. She became a real estate broker in 1973 and founded Village Realty located in Rockledge, FL. She moved to Westminster Asbury, Cocoa, FL in 1983 and served as a librarian, interviewed and wrote "Neighbor of the Month" in Asbury newsletter.
She was an avid artist and belonged to the Central Brevard Art Association. Many of her paintings were displayed in local banks and businesses, and she received many awards for her paintings.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rockledge in the Marion Chapel on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 10:00 A.M.
Davis-Seawinds Funeral Home, Melbourne, is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wuesthoff Hospice & Palliative Care, 8060 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera, FL 32940.
Condolences may be shared at www.davisseawinds.com