Leslie Lorraine Powell Gilreath died June 23, 2025 after a long struggle with cancer.
She was born December 28, 1945 at Great Lakes Naval Training Base, Great Lakes, IL to Thad and Lorraine (Seffens) Powell. She was raised in Mason, OH, where she graduated from William Mason High School. She later received a BA English from Macalester College, St Paul, MN, and an MA in English and Writing from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI.
She married her high school sweetheart Robert Spencer Gilreath on May 22, 1966, and they were married nearly 42 years until his death in 2007. They were privileged to travel the world where Bob’s Whirlpool work took him and still have many friends from those years.
She was a stay-at-home-Mom until 1984 when she entered the world of marketing as a copywriter with Marketing Partners, Inc., St Joseph MI. She became Director of Marketing for Lakeland Regional Health System for six years, returning to Marketing Partners, until she retired in 2006 as Vice President/Creative Director. After her retirement she studied to be a Commissioned Ruling Elder in the Presbytery of Lake Michigan and filled pulpits throughout southwest Michigan. She also devoted time to her home church, Fairplain Presbyterian, serving as elder, clerk of session, on many committees, in choir and bell choir, Food Pantry, Soup Kitchen and filling the pulpit as needed.
Leslie is survived by three children: Grant Spencer Gilreath (Pat Fynmore), Port St. Lucie, FL; Erik Gilreath (Carrie Tramper), Coral, MI; Melissa Gilreath Cobb, Lombard, IL; seven grandchildren: Meaghan Viebke (Theo Viebke); Spencer Gilreath; Alexandra Gilreath; Kierra Gilreath Stacy (Dylan Stacy), Lakiesha Gilreath, Elijah Gilreath, Robert Gilreath, and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Darrel Powell (Yvonne Hammond) and niece and nephew Shannon Powell and Brandon Powell and a sister-in-law, Kathy Green Smith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, parents Thad and Lorraine (Seffens) Powell; maternal and paternal grandparents.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, June 27th 1:00 P.M., at Starks and Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St Joseph, MI 49085. Pastor David Schell of Jackson’s First Presbyterian Church will be officiating. Those wishing to sign Leslie’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Service Details
Service
When
June 27th, 2025 1:00pm
Where
Starks & Menchinger Chapel
Address
2650 Niles Rd.
St. Joseph , MI 49085
Interment
Where
Hickory Bluff Cemetery
Address
STEVENSVILLE , MI 49127
Additional Interment Information
Private committal will take place at a later date.