Benny Leigh

Graveside
2:00 p.m. Friday August 28, 2020
Moravian Cemetery, West Salem, IL

Benny Leigh age 85 of Parkersburg, IL passed from this life to the next on August 25, 2020 at Lavender Ridge in Olney, IL.

He was born on July 17, 1935 to Charles and Ruby (Lester) Leigh in Olney, IL. He married Joyce Boewe on June 2, 1956 at the Moravian Church in West Salem.

Benny worked for Calvert Drilling Company after graduation from high school, until taking a job with aunt Imogene Fishel after the passing of her husband, Harry. He worked there until 1961 when he joined his father-in-law in farming. In 1964 he bought the Leigh Family Farm where he resided until 2014 when illness prevented him from being at home.
He went on a mission trip after a hurricane in Nicaragua, along with other Moravians, to train local people how to use sawmills that had been shipped to them.
Benny was a carpenter in addition to farming, building their new home in 1969-1970. He served on the Board of Trustees at the Moravian Church for several terms. When Chairman of the Board, he went to the church and cemetery every day to make sure everything was OK.
He was an avid supporter of the West Salem Chowder.
Benny was a fun loving and tenderhearted guy, always ready to help anyone that needed help. He loved being with his grandchildren Janaya and Jeremy, until Jeremy’s death in 1995. Both were always with Grandpa working with farming equipment. Later, we had Tanner to enjoy and he too liked to farm.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce of Parkersburg, son Gregory Allen Leigh of West Salem; grandson Tanner Owen Leigh with the United States Army in Fort Riley, KS; granddaughter, Janaya Nicole Leigh of Evansville, IN; great grandsons Kylon Amani Austin and Jenson Bradley Ellis Leigh; one sister Glenna Parker of Terre Haute IN; brother Bob (Mary Lou) Leigh of Albion, IL and many nieces and nephews and cousins.

Benny was preceded in death by his parents, son Thomas Bradley “Brad” Leigh, grandson Jeremy Leigh, four brothers: Willie, Dale, Bernard and Richard Leigh, four sisters: Iva Bunting, Neva Fewkes, Mary Collins and Rebecca Galloway and his in-laws Ellis and Alma (Fishel) Boewe.
He was also preceded in death by “man’s best friend” Lucy.

A graveside service will be held on Friday August 28, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the Moravian Cemetery in West Salem IL where there will be opportunity for viewing and paying final respects.

In lieu of flowers memorials are encouraged to the West Salem Moravian Cemetery Fund. Envelopes will be available at the service.

Online condolences and fond memories may be left for the family at www.meridithfuneralhome.com.

Ingram-Meridith Funeral Home of West Salem is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.