Our loving father and husband left us on a beautiful starry night, May 1, 2016, surrounded by his family.

James S. Leigh was the only son and middle child of Alice and Alfred Leigh of Lansing, Mich. He graduated from Michigan State University with a civil engineering degree and from University of Michigan with a Juris Doctor degree with distinction.

In 1960, he and his wife, Joan, moved to Portland, and Jim began his law career with Klarquist Sparkman. Jim had two great loves in his life. First, he loved his wife and three daughters and delighted in sharing the Oregon outdoor beauty with them. He taught his children to ski, play tennis, kayak, hike and camp. He was a charter member of West Hills Raquet Club and a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club. He was a member of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol and climbed many mountains as a Mazama. Jim was also an avid runner for the past 60 years. His second great love was his profession as an intellectual properties attorney. He loved his work and had a wonderful work ethic. He served on many committees with the Oregon State Bar. He was honored in Portland Monthly Best Lawyers many times. The James S. Leigh Award for Lawyers Against Hunger was created by the Oregon State Bar in his honor. His dream was to still be at his desk at age 90. Unfortunately, Alzheimers disease ended that dream. However, he continued to sing weekly with the Alzheimer’s Association Sing Here Now and paint with the Alzheimer’s Association Memories in the Making groups. He enjoyed Cedar Sinai adult day program, especially the sing alongs. He and his wife, Joan, walked daily in various areas of Portland, stopping at cafes and points of interest until a diagnosis of terminal kidney cancer put him into hospice at his home.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Joan; daughters and families: Jennifer and Walter Cahill and son, Connor Cahill; Amy and Mike Chappelle, daughter, Emily and son, Edwin; and Sarah Crisp and Mike Duggan; sister, Martha Spencer; five granddogs; and Pumpkin The Cat.

Many thanks to the Alzheimer’s Association of Oregon, Cedar Sinai Adult Day Services and Providence Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Azheimers Association of Oregon art and music programs, the Oregon Food Bank or charities of your choice. A celebration of life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5, 2016, at the Multnomah Athletic Club.