Cleve Leckey

RUMFORD – Cleve R. Leckey, 93, died Sunday, April 2, 2023 at Rumford Community Hospital. He was a resident of Rumford.

Born in Mexico, ME, Cleve was the son of Wirt and Mary (Erb) Leckey. He was a graduate of Mexico High School and received a BA Degree in Zoology and a MS Bacteriology Degree at the University of Maine. He served in the US Army from 1953-1955. During his career, he worked for the Oxford Paper Company in Rumford as a Researcher, as a Chemistry Teacher at Rumford High School, as an entrepreneur developing ways to reclaim precious metals from electronics recycling, and also for the Maine DEP as an Oil and Hazardous Waste Specialist for 25 years beginning in 1987 until he was 82 years old! Cleve had a wide range of interests, many of which were trendsetting. In the 1950’s he had decided that smoking cigarettes and trans fats were bad for people, started home brewing, practiced Yoga, jogged, skied, hiked, camped, played tennis and scuba dived. He was an avid participant in the American Lung Association’s Trek Across Maine charity ride. He was also an accomplished classical pianist, a passion he continued throughout his life. Many of these passions are shared today by his children and grandchildren.

Beloved husband for 31 years, he was married to Carol MacPherson (Francey) in 1992 who survives of Canton. Other survivors include a daughter Karen Foust and husband Matt of West Gardiner, sons, John and wife Joyce of Wilbraham, MA and Greg and wife Uschi of Offenbach Germany, step-daughters, Pam Beaumont and husband Jim of Merrimack, NH, Beth Amis of Norwood, MA, and Julie Francey Collins and husband Drew of Debary, FL, a sister Diane Mann and her husband Kent of Mexico, and former wife Lois Leckey-Massar and husband Ken of Etna, ME. Many grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son George and step-daughter Christine Gosselin.

Friends and family are invited to share memories with the family at www.meaderandson.com.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 16 at 11AM to 1 PM followed by a funeral at 1 PM at the Meader & Son Funeral Home, 3 Franklin St Rumford, ME. Interment will follow the service at the Sunnyside Cemetery in Rumford.