Jeffrey W. Leisure

Jeﬀ (age 56) passed peacefully on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at St. Francis Nursing Home in Worcester, MA. Jeﬀ was born to Larry Ray and Marianne Leisure of Guymon, Oklahoma. They moved to Purcell, OK for his middle school and then to Mesquite, Texas for high school. After high school, Jeﬀ began his military career, first joining the Army Reserve in 1985 and then the Navy four years later. The Navy took him to many places in Europe and the Middle East. Jeﬀ’s ships participated in Operation Provide Promise, Persian Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His job was a Fire Controlman; he operated and maintained the weapons systems and radar systems. Jeﬀ served on the USS Leyte Gulf, the USS Vella Gulf and the USS McFaul. For twenty years, Jeﬀ proudly served our country and retired as Chief Petty Oﬃcer in 2008. In 1993 Melissa followed the wrong car to a wedding and sparks ignited. They were married in February 1995. After his military retirement, Jeﬀ worked with Evergreen Solar in Devens, MA. When they moved to China, Jeﬀ accepted a job with Mevion Medical Systems in Littleton, MA. There Jeﬀ built what he called “the Cancer Killing Machine” (AKA Proton Beam Ray Cancer Therapy Machine.) He traveled to hospitals all over the US and helped install this machine. Jeﬀ was proud to be working with a company doing such great and needed work. Jeﬀ was a member of the Central Mass Christian Men’s Group, led by Jason Kunst. He attended the breakfasts, the 1st of the month Men’s dinners at Trinity Church in Bolton, and the night time gatherings around the fire. He really enjoyed getting to know the men and participate in this group. Jeﬀ volunteered and participated in many activities at Clear Path for Veterans. Clear Path has assisted him and his family through this horrible disease, Early Onset Alzheimer’s. Jeﬀ was diagnosed at 52 years of age. When Jeﬀ retired from the Navy, he commented, “I’ve seen the other side of the world, now I’d like to see my own country.” So once diagnosed, he and Melissa hit the road for 3 to 4 months each fall for the next 3 years. While on one of their trips, they visited Mount Rushmore, where Jeﬀ was able to participate in the evening ceremony by assisting in the nightly retiring of the US Flag. This was one of his, more recent, proudest moments. Jeﬀ is survived by his wife, Melissa, and two children, Jeremy (26-of Brattleboro, VT) and Sean (24-of Devens, MA), his mother Ms. Marianne Leisure of Kingwood, TX and two brothers, Lance Leisure of Kingwood, TX and Larry Leisure of Nagoya, Japan. Jeﬀ was preceded in death by his father, Larry Ray Leisure. A Celebration of Life is planned for Monday, September 30, 2024 at 2pm at Hope Chapel, Sterling, MA. In lieu of flowers the family request donations to be sent to Clear Path for Veterans of New England, 82 Antietam Street, Devens, MA 01434 or Hope Chapel, 35 Chocksett Road, Sterling, MA 01564. Condolences may be mailed to: Melissa Leisure,42 Walnut Street, Devens, MA.

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Jeffrey W. Leisure

November 5, 1967 - September 14, 2024