Joan Kavanaugh Lesueur

1929 - 2025

Joan Kavanaugh Lesueur

November 16, 1929 - November 5, 2025

Lexington, Kentucky - Joan Kavanaugh Lesueur, 95, died Wednesday November 5, 2025. She was born in Mt. Sterling and spent her first 12 years on farms in Montgomery and Garrard Counties before moving to Lexington. She attended the University of Kentucky, earning a master's degree in Spanish. She taught Spanish, English and theatre at Midway College and Morehead State University, where she met her husband, Alexander Lesueur. The Lesueur's lived in Tallahassee, Florida for three years before moving to North Carolina. Joan worked several years at Hunter Library, Western Carolina University and earned a second master's in library science at UK during the summers. She taught several years in the School of Education at Western Carolina University. She ended her career as librarian at Canton Junior High School, Canton, NC, where she was once Haywood County Teacher of the Year. The family eventually moved back to Lexington, where they attended Christ Church Cathedral. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Nancy Kavanaugh, and her husband. She is survived by her son, Alex Lesueur, Jr. A memorial visitation for Joan will be held from 11:00am-12:00pm Wednesday November 12, 2025, at Kerr Brothers-Main Street with the service to follow at 12:00pm. Burial will follow in the Machpelah Cemetery in Mt. Sterling. Alex, Jr. wishes to thank her caregivers, as well as the staffs of Mayfair Village, Baptist Health-Lexington, and Bluegrass Hospice for their care.