LEAVITT, George Harlan

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Wednesday, July 16, 2003 George Harlan Leavitt, 87, of Overgaard, AZ, has told his final story. His passing came peacefully on July 12, 2003. He leaves behind a legacy of story-telling about the caskets he spent 30 years manufacturing at Phoenix Casket Company. His stories of the American history that he lived in the early 1900's kept children mesmerized. George and his wife, Eleanor, spent almost 67 years together and they had three children, Evelyn, Dewayne, and Vernon. Two other children, John and Donald Robl, joined the family as foster kids and stayed. A combined 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren kept him happy with built-in audiences. George was a forty year member of Madison Baptist Church, Phoenix, helping it grow from a tent on the corner of 12th Street and Camelback to its present location. He was a man of integrity, and believed in a hard-days work. He was still moving dirt in his yard the last days of his life. All who knew him will miss his finger in the air and his statement, "that reminds me . . ." as another story wound it's way into the conversation. Rest well, George. You deserve it. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Overgaard Baptist Church on Saturday, July 19th, at 4:00 PM, and at Madison Baptist Church, Phoenix, on Monday, July 21st, at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to either church.