Obituary
Jesse Leach

Jesse Leach

Jesse Leach of Hessel, who spent much of his life working with horses on Mackinac Island, died following a collision with a sport utility vehicle while riding a four-wheeler Sunday afternoon, August 28, 2005. The accident took place on Poglese Road in Marquette Township.

According to the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Department, Mr. Leach, 43, was operating a four-wheel, off-road vehicle as he exited his driveway onto Poglese Road. The oncoming vehicle was driven by another Hessel resident. Mr. Leach was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The driver of the sport utility vehicle was not injured.

Mr. Leach was transported by Clark Township ambulance to War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, where he was later pronounced dead.

He was born in Pickford January 13, 1962, to John and Ruth (nee Fenlon) Leach and was graduated from Pickford High School in 1980.

He and his wife, Suzanne Raycraft, met and were married on Mackinac Island September 17, 1988. They moved to Naples, Florida, where Mr. Leach operated a lawn care business for nine years and where his two children, Kevin and Stephanie, were born. The family returned to Michigan in 1993.

Mr. Leach enjoyed raising vegetables and worked for Green Thumb Garden Center before going back to work for Jack’s Livery Stable.

In addition to his wife and children, survivors include his siblings and their families, Joe and Jaime Leach and Laurie and Steve Hancock of Pickford, Anna and Greg Degenhardt of Davisberg, Sandy and Perry Causley of Lansing, Jason Leach of Georgia, Jerry Leach and Marcus of Augustine, Florida and Long Lake, and Mike Everson of Williamsburg.

Mr. Leach was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation was held at Reamer-Gaylor Funeral Home in Pickford Wednesday, August 31, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with services Thursday, September 1, at 11 a.m.