LEET, Lawrence (Larry) Kelly

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, October 19, 2014 Lawrence "Larry" Kelly Leet Larry, 60, passed from this life Sept. 18, 2014 of an accumulation of blood clots. He was born in San Diego, Calif., to Fred and Marlene Leet on Jan. 26, 1954. He was the second of four children. His siblings are Teresa, Gerry and Rebecca. He was blessed with one daughter, Sarah and was preceded in death by his father, Fred. A compassionate, complex and energetic individual, Larry lived a varied and interesting life. Leaving California in 1972 for Arizona with his mom, he assisted her in setting up a new residence before taking off for his own pursuits, which included, but was not limited to, working as a skilled machinist, a landscaper, body fitness trainer with Nautilus and European Health Spas, meeting and/or working with such notable people as the fitness guru Jack LaLane, Mr. America, Lou Ferrigno of Hulk fame, and a few Playboy bunnies, inventing and patenting a brake system for motorcycles, traveling to Holland, searching old family records to find missing family connections and proudly serving a short stint in the Navy on an aircraft carrier. While living in Chino, Ariz. and working for his mom, he met Colleen McGraph and they had a daughter, Sara, in 1982 before parting ways. Next stop was Eugene, Ore., where he married Kim Winton in 1994, raising a child who was his wife's. They divorced in 2004, permanently severing his tie with the baby when she was two. It was with a heavy heart that he returned to Arizona. In 2007, he helped his mom remodel her place, sell it, then moved with her to Colorado. But, after living there for 7 years, they found the climate too dry, so in 2013, he and his mom returned to California where they settled in Northeast San Diego County April 2014. Larry will be remembered for his generosity, caring spirit, unstinting devotion to family and his greatest joy: owning, riding and rebuilding motorcycles. He was very proud of the fact that he'd owned 100 bikes over his lifetime. His handle was "Roadrunner." Summing up what riding meant to him was this saying found in the back of his address book: "I pray to God my spirit to ride forever empowered." Larry is survived by his daughter Sarah Leet of Cathedral City, Calif.; mother Marlene Leet of San Diego, Calif.; sisters, Teresa Herrington and husband Ron of Spokane, Wash., Gerry Leet-Tietema and husband Chris of Sherburn, Minn., Rebecca Leet-Hornung of San Diego, Calif.; cousin Patricia Fitzsimmons; brother-in-law David Herrington; nieces, Amber, Lori, and Heather Herrington; nephews, Matthew, Joshua and Jonathan Rands; beloved aunt Natalie McClure; three grand-nieces; and numerous cousins. A Ceremony of Life service is planned for 10 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2014, at El Cajon Cemetery, El Cajon, Calif., where his ashes will be interred at his father's grave. Information provided by survivors.