David Keith Leacock

GARNER – David Keith Leacock, 70, finished his last race on Thursday, 22 December 2022 crossing the finish line after a three year battle with Congestive Heart Failure. He passed at home supported and surrounded by the love of his wife of 37 years, Teresa V. Bushman, (his “Tissy”) and his siblings William B. Leacock, Debra Tackett, Karen Stephany and his beloved dogs, Booger, Dica and Bennie. David was born on April 6, 1952, in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. He was the son of Vivian Leacock and the late William Leacock. He is also survived by his many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews whom he enjoyed spending time with and always spoke of with great admiration and affection.

David discovered his first passion as a teenager, running track and field throughout his school years, representing his high school and college and eventually completing a Bachelors’ Degree in Education and coaching the sport he loved so much. He continued his own running for most of his life, completing an ultra marathon of 58.4 miles while posted in Guam, to raise funds for the American Red Cross. He funded his first college degree by working for three years as a West Virginia Coal Miner, a difficult and dangerous job. He was always willing to do whatever he needed to do to achieve his goals.

Davids’ second passion was serving the Marines as a Navy Corpsman for 10 of his 20 years in the service, which he entered at the advanced age of 31. He loved his “jarheads” and they loved him. He and his wife enjoyed the travel and challenges of military life, always seeking out new ways of appreciating the world in the many places they were posted.

David also found peace in nature, greatly enjoying hiking, camping, kayaking and especially fishing, even if he did not catch anything worth eating! He hiked and camped solo for weeks in the wilderness as a young man and especially enjoyed experiencing nature in Alaska and Montana with family.

During his military service he completed a second degree, a Masters Degree in Forensic Photography. After his retirement from the military he worked many different jobs, but his real enjoyment came from creating gardens, building a beautiful deck and pergola by himself, restoring furniture, working on home improvements, traveling, enjoying his dogs and making friends wherever he went (and of course, fishing and football). He could talk to anybody about anything, and more than once would help homeless people he encountered with money, clothing and meals. He was also obsessed with military history and read or watched anything to do with the Military, particularly the Special Forces. Finally he loved his football games, much to the dismay of his wife, who never learned to like the game.

He was kind, compassionate, occasionally hot tempered, very stubborn, completely loyal to and protective of those whom he loved and those who needed protection. He was a complicated, wonderful man. He will be greatly missed by those who were lucky enough to call him family or friend.

In memory of David, please make donations in his name to The Wounded Warrior Project or the SPCA of Wake County.

If you wish to send flowers, live plants would be preferred to plant in his gardens.

A visitation will be held at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 1200 Benson Road, Garner, NC 27529, on Sunday, January 8th, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Arrangements by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner, NC.