Lesley Ferris Schleeter,
70, of Waverly, Tenn., passed away Friday morning, Sept. 14, 2012, at home from
liver cancer under the care of hospice.
Lesley was born in Moline on April 6, 1942, to the late Burns Arthur Schleeter
and Flornell Schleeter, who survives.
Lesley graduated from United Township High School, East Moline, and entered the
U.S. Navy for four years. He attained the rank of second class petty officer.
While in the Navy, he helped with the recovery of one of the astronauts, Gordon
Cooper, from Project Mercury in 1963. He worked for John Deere for 18 years.
He married Inez Box Jones on Jan. 1, 1982, and moved to Waverly. He spent 30
years working on his Tennessee acreage, building a house, decks, walks and stone
walls; lumberjacking and sawmilling; repairing boats, motorcycles and tractors;
and constructing a hybrid motorcycle/dune buggy for which the motor license
department inspected and issued a VIN. He also enjoyed fishing, gardening and
reading.
He is survived by his mother, Flornell Schleeter, East Moline; his wife, Inez
Schleeter, Waverly; a son and a daughter; two stepsons and a stepdaughter;
sister, Sharon (Don) Jenkins, Worden, Ill.; and brother, Gary (Jo) Schleeter,
East Moline.
Memorials may be made to the donor's choice or to the family in care of the
Humphreys County Funeral Home, 217 E. Main St., Waverly,
TN 37185.