Leon J. Keck

Leon J. Keck, age 84, a resident of Albuquerque since 1956, slipped peacefully from this life in his home on Sunday morning, July 27, 2014. He had been under hospice care for several weeks after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Leon is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Lois Kuhn Keck; daughter, Joan Lamunyon Sanford and partner, Sami Wolf of Albuquerque, and Joan’s children, Matthew Leon Richardson and Kristina Lynn Romero(Richardson), and great-granddaughter, Aurora Marley Romero; daughter, Laura Beth Gallaway and husband, Scott of Fairview, TX, and their children, Scott Austin and Glynn Ellen; son, Leon Jason Keck and wife, Deborah (Rivera) and their children, Leon Alexander and Reece Mitchell of Arroyo Grande, CA; sister, Marilyn Clinesmith and Clay; and brothers; Henry Keck and Marilyn Ruth, Joe Keck and Donna, and Thomas Keck and Margaret(deceased). He was preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Faith (LaMunyon) Keck. Leon was born in Fairview, Oklahoma, on February 24, 1930. He graduated from Fairview High School, where he lettered in football and was the first in his family to attend college at Northwestern Oklahoma College on a football scholarship. Leon’s college studies were interrupted in 1950 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean War. In 1953, he resumed his college studies at Oklahoma State University on the GI bill and earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In 1956, he moved to Albuquerque where he worked at Sandia National Laboratories for 36 years. In 1958, he met Lois and they were married in January of 1959. Leon earned his M.S. in Engineering at the University of New Mexico. He played the bagpipes with the Ballut Abyad Shrine Pipes and Drums, was a black diamond skier, avid golfer and played duplicate bridge both online and at the Duke City Bridge Club. Leon left a legacy of wisdom, humor and love of family and will be remembered with deep affection by all who knew him. A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church, 4601 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE on Friday, August 1, 2014 at 3:00 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Mexico Parkinson's Disease Coalition (nmparkinson.org or 1740 Miracerros Pl NE, 87106) or a charity of your choice.