Leo A. Quigley

There will be reception to follow the committal service at St. Pius X.

Leo A Quigley

Leo was born near Elk City, OK, on the family homestead December 10, 1917, on a cold winter day to Charles Joseph and Clara Quigley. Leo had three brothers - Jerome, Neal, and Shorty, which have preceded him in death and a sister, Clare Reynolds who now lives in Lakewood, CO.

Leo had the good fortune to visit with "Sis" for the past few years of his life while living with his son Charles Quigley in Aurora, CO. Leo started living with Charles after the death of his wife Oneta Jewel, Sept. 15, 2008. They had been married for 66 wonderful years.

Leo lost his father when he was seven years old to Cholera, and immediately became responsible for helping to provide for his siblings and mother Clara, who was a school teacher. He ran 2-3 newspaper routes along with one of his brothers. The whole family worked at providing for themselves. His sister Clare has told us that Leo was always the one who took it seriously and never forgot family when times were rough. He bought the family's first washing machine, so that his mother and sister no longer had to do the washing by hand. He promised his mother when she died that he would always take care of his sister Clare. Clare says he has always been there for her. We are blessed to still have Clare with us today.

Leo graduated high school at St Joseph in Elk City, OK. At that time, the high school parking spots were filled with horses, rather than cars. There he met his future wife, Oneta Byler who was the sister of one of his good friends. They knew each other for several years before he proposed. They married in San Antonio, TX. March 13, 1942 where Leo was in the Army Air Corp before it split into two different divisions.
He served as a Tech Sergeant and supply clerk until the end of World War ll. He had just requested to go overseas in the place of one of his brothers, whose wife was expecting a baby. As fate would have it, the war ended and he did not have to go.

Leo's life and experiences took him and his family many places, which lead to many adventures along the way. The married couple, while in the service, lived in San Antonio TX, Bellville IL , Altus OK, Elk City OK. After the service they moved on to Oklahoma City OK, Kelseyville CA, Salinas CA, Elk City OK, Leadville CO, Kocomo CO, Buena Vista CO, Walsenburg CO, Pueblo CO, Texas Creek CO, Hillside CO, Elk City OK, Elkhart KS, Denver CO, Elkhart KS, Denver CO, to his last home in Aurora CO. Count them, that's 21 different places in 5 different States. Whew! That was a lot of moving. Just ask his kids.

Leo had many talents and careers; from bulldozing terraces in a CA pecan orchard, to selling Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners, hard rock mining at Climax, CO, to building CO highways, to learning the trade of Machinist and Welder and eventually working at, and retiring from General Ironworks in Denver, CO. We will never be able to look at an Electrolux without thinking of Dad. It seems that we always had one in every closet.

Leo and Oneta were blessed with 3 children.
Charles David Quigley was born July 13, 1943 in Altus, OK, and now lives in Aurora, CO. Charles had a penchant for wandering off whenever he heard something interesting, like hammers.

Carol Susann (Quigley) Soupiset French was born July 7, 1948 in Elk City, OK, and now lives in Wichita, KS. Charles used to chase Susann with all manner of icky things, which brothers were obliged to do.

Rebecca Jean (Quigley) Beach, was born June 21, 1958 in Salida, CO and now lives in Denver, CO. Rebecca was spoiled rotten by her older brother and sister, who she absolutely worshipped, and was never chased with icky things. She was however, terrorized with tickling by both her dad and older brother. She'd probably have a much better voice now if she hadn't ruined it screaming.

Grandchildren are Aaron Christopher Soupiset, who grew from a skinny little kid into a tall, handsome giant. Jonel Beach and Sean Beach, (Rebecca's stepchildren from a previous marriage) completely idolized their cousin Aaron, and Allegra Simone Beach, the youngest, who rightly loves them all.

Great grandchildren are Jocelyn Belle Soupiset,"Tinkerbell" and Rowan Leo "Little Leo" born to Aaron Soupiset and Tatiana Soupiset of Wichita, KS. The nicknames are Leo's picks for his great grandchildren. All his "little ones" were the apple of his eye, whether they were actually little or not.

The family enjoyed many great adventures in the mountains of Colorado on weekend picnics and prospecting for uranium on hikes across the mountains. Great discoveries of Indian arrowheads and many other treasures were found on these excursions. There was great fun in the camping grounds from Oneta's great cooking over a campfire, (I can smell it now) to snakes appearing in our midst, to dogs planting themselves atop Susie in the tent at night and growling fiercely, if prompted to move!
Leo would take whatever vehicle he was driving straight up a mountain, and all sorts of places it was not meant to go. His big chicken youngest daughter would usually get out and walk.
It was a time of memories, that looking back, take our breath away, and with a big sigh, we remember how grand it all was.

This was the life and times of our family with Leo and Oneta, our treasured parents.