Leo Doran Gregorich Jr.

Leo Doran GREGORICH, Jr. November 17, 1911 ~ May 10, 2009 On the most beautiful of Mother's Days, Leo Gregorich passed away in his sleep after a short illness. Leo was a young 97 years old. Leo was born in Lokve, Yugoslavia - Croatian Republic, to Leo Sr. and Stefania (Kos) Gregorich. Leo immigrated with his mother to the United States as an infant, where they joined Leo Sr. in the large Slavic community in Roslyn, Washington. Leo was the first of five children born to Leo and Stefania. While growing up his family was without money at times. With Leo's active and creative mind he set to building for himself what his family couldn't afford. These things included bicycles, boats and toys. Thus began a life of creating and building. Leo lived in many places while growing up: Roslyn, Montana, Tacoma, Selleck, Alaska, and Seattle. Leo finally returned to Roslyn in 1936, where he met Dorothy Horvat, Roslyn High School class of 1932. They married in 1937. In 1944 they moved to Seattle with their two daughters, Karen and Barbara, then to Maple Valley and a final move to Bellevue, Washington. They chose to settle and raise their family on a small farm in Factoria. In 1950, Leo built a new barn and home on the property for his growing family including a son, Mel and daughter, Trudi. They continued to live there, enjoying the view of Lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains for 58 years. Leo had many different occupations throughout his life. He worked in Roslyn at his family's small coal mine and at the Model Dairy owned by Dorothy's family. He worked for a logging company in Selleck, and as a mechanic for Harms Transport in Bellevue, while keeping up his own small farm. His later years were spent as a finish carpenter. Leo retired in 1977 but you could hardly call it retirement. Leo enjoyed spending the next 31 years dancing the Polka with Dorothy, and playing his saxophone and accordion in small bands with Dorothy on piano. He loved nature and as often as he could, would go fishing, hiking, berry and mushroom picking and of course building things. Leo continued to enjoy his favorite activities right up to his 97th birthday. He took joy in teaching his grandsons to fish and instilled in them his love of nature. Among the things Leo built, the most notable are the memories of countless hours shared with his four children, Karen Cullen (Dorsey), Barbara Harrison (Howard), Mel Gregorich (Patricia), Trudi Kerslake (Julian Loera), eight grandsons, six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, who will cherish the memory of his stories, stern lectures, and life lessons for the rest of their days. Leo was active in the SNPJ-Slovenian Lodge, the Eastshore Unitarian Church, and the Bellevue and Kirkland Senior Centers. He also was active in many organizations to promote peace and social justice. He was an avid reader and lifelong learner. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy in 2005, his grandson Peter Stevens in 2006, his brothers, Albert and Walter Gregorich and sisters Paula Keyser and Rose Simmons. There will be no memorial service. Leo wanted his ashes to be taken to one of his favorite fishing spots by his family. Memorial gifts may be made to Group Health Hospice, Salvation Army or to the charity of your choice. Sign Leo's on-line Guest Book at www.Legacy.com.