Leland C. (Lee Zip) Ashley, 82, a retired maintenance laborer for Gowanda Central School, where he worked for 25 years, died Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at Lake Shore Hospital in Irving, NY. He was born February 28, 1932 in Gowanda, NY the son of the late Chester and Isabel (Scott) Ashley.
He worked at Moench Tanning for 18 years and on his family's farms as well. He was member of American Legion Post 953 in Forestville, a member of New Apostolic Church of Gowanda, and a lifetime member of the Goode Sam Club. Leland will be remembered for his love of family, flowers, country music, western movies & NASCAR. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, having attained the rank of Corporal.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine Dayton Ashley, whom he married on August 9, 1951 in the town of Dayton, NY; his son, Wayne L. (Beverly) Ashley of Silver Creek, NY; his daughter, Suzanne E. (Jeffrey) Bobseine of Collins, NY; two grandsons, Christopher Ashley of Silver Creek, NY, Bryon (Sarah) Bobseine of Springville; three granddaughters, Darcy (Roy) Beatty of West Seneca, NY, Stacey (Steve) Raiport of Gowanda, NY, and Tammy (Dan) Schmitz of Hamburg, NY; 10 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandson; and a sister, Sylvia (John) Bachmann of West Seneca, NY. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his son, James Ashley; and his sister, Evelyn Pfleuger.
The family suggests memorials to Forestville American Legion Memorial Fund, 4 Cedar Street, Forestville, NY 14062 or American Heart Association & Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 21, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Hills Funeral Chapel, 255 Aldrich Street, Gowanda, NY. The Rev. Mark Bachmann of the New Apostolic Church of Rochester, NY will be officiating. Inurnment will be in the Jolls Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the funeral chapel on Sunday from 2 - 8 P.M.
Obituary from the Dunkirk Observer
