Leigh Athans

Leigh Deann Shanks Athans passed away peacefully on February 16, 2025 in Easley, South Carolina at the age of 54. She was born in Denver, Colorado on October 7, 1970 and grew up in a loving home in Lakewood, Colorado with her parents, Sam and Roberta Shanks and three older sisters, Dana, Gail and Jill.

Always a free spirit with an enduring sense of good humor and adventure, Leigh was a courageous, empathetic soul who touched the lives of everyone who knew and loved her.

An excellent athlete throughout her teens, she enjoyed dancing, weight training and playing high school girls' basketball. She served as the Honored Queen of Jobs Daughters Bethel #8 and was chosen as the Grand Honored Queen to represent the state of Colorado.

After graduating from Lakewood High School, Leigh met the one and only true love of her life, Darryl Athans. They married near Darryl's childhood home on Long Island in Holbrook, NY on October 8, 1995, and made their own home in Bohemia, NY.

Early in their marriage, Leigh excelled professionally as an executive assistant at a high-tech company. Her organizational skills, attention to detail and natural leadership earned her the respect of executives who relied on her to manage critical projects. Her commanding presence and efficient work ethic made her an invaluable asset to the entire company, especially the C-suite, operations, and HR departments.

Weekends were spent experiencing New York City or boating around the ocean waters off Long Island with friends and family. Lasting memories were created frequenting Leigh and Darryl's favorite destination of Fire Island over many years of owning different sizes and types of boats.

Motherhood became Leigh's greatest joy and most cherished job when she gave birth to her precious son Christopher in 1997 and then her beautiful, sweet daughter, Alexandra in 2001. Leigh was a devoted and loving mother to both of her children, providing support and opportunities as they grew. Her ongoing encouragement of her son's skateboarding passion led Chris to become a well-known, sponsored skater. She and daughter Alex were extremely close and shared a love of pop culture and music.

In 2006, the family moved to Frisco, Texas. There, Leigh worked in the service industry managing successful restaurants while continuing to prioritize her favorite role of being a wife and mother. Over the years, Leigh opened her heart and home to dozens of struggling teens to whom she became a surrogate mom, providing a guiding light, a stable environment and copious amounts of food!

An animal lover her entire life, Leigh was also a mama to her beloved dogs, Ching, Hendrix, Gracie-Belle and others. She loved cooking and entertaining, and was always the life of the party, enjoying dancing and singing karaoke. Gifted at drawing and painting from an early age, she re-discovered her artistic side later in life and loved working on intricate, beautiful coloring pages.

Leigh spent her last few years living with her sister Jill Shanks in Fremont, California. She was a constant source of support and strength as Jill battled breast cancer. The two of them grew closer than ever, especially when Leigh received her own diagnosis of small cell lung cancer in June, 2024.

After Jill's passing in August 2024, Leigh moved to Easley, South Carolina where she spent her final months back with her love, Darryl.

Throughout her illness, Leigh was a model of courage and a shining example of grace for her children, family and friends. Her beautiful, loving spirit will shine on forever in the hearts of all who were blessed to know and love her.

Leigh is survived by husband, Darryl Athans; son, Christopher Athans; daughter, Alexandra Athans; sisters, Dana (Shanks) Cohenour and Gail Shanks Loos; brother-in-law, Jason Cohenour; nieces and nephews, Tyler Loos, Madison Loos and Jack Cohenour as well as numerous other family members. She was preceded in death by her sister, Jill Lynn Shanks; parents, Sam L. Shanks and Roberta Ruth Stiteler Shanks; grandparents, Lester and Edna Stiteler and Wilford and Ruth Shanks.

Inspired by her sister Jill's example, Leigh chose to donate her body to science as a lasting, impactful gift. A private memorial will be held this spring in Leigh's favorite mountain town of Glenwood Springs, CO. In lieu of flowers, donations to Prisma Hospice of the Foothills are gratefully accepted.

https://prismahealth.org/giving/oconee-memorial-hospital-foundation/make-a-donation