William Bevan Leigh, 85, passed away peacefully at his home June 26, 2009. He was known throughout his life by many names: Bill, Bevan, and sometimes referred to affectionately as Wild Bill.

Bill was born in Cedar City on Dec. 17, 1923. He grew up on a farm with chickens, cows and horses and learned to work hard.

In 1941, he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Washington and Alaska during World War II. It was in Seattle that he met and married Verna Gellhaus on Christmas Eve 1944.

They eventually returned to Cedar where they lived and raised their three children.

Bill worked as a heavy equipment operator, but was disabled in an accident in the early 60s. He recovered and learned to play golf, albeit with a somewhat unusual golf swing. He loved to invent, design and build things and held several patents.

He had a love for flying and was fascinated with hang-gliding – riding tandem with his hang-gliding friends from time to time.

Bill is survived by his son, James Leigh (Karen) of Salt Lake City; his daughter, Patricia Williams (Lonnie) of Cedar City; his daughter-in-law, Cyndie Leigh of Las Vegas, Nev.;

his three younger sisters, June Proctor (Grant) of Boulder City, Nev., Bonnie Kelly (Joe) of Los Angeles, Calif., Thelma Butters (Chuck) of Salt Lake City; and his sister-in-law, Sharon Leigh of Cedar City. Bill is also survived by nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Elias Wood and Aline Walker Leigh of Cedar

City; his brother Edwin Leigh of Cedar City; his sisters Verda Baggett (Walter) of Petaluma, Calif. and Ramona Corry (Preston) of Cedar City. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, who passed away on Mother’s Day 2006, and his son, William Douglas Leigh, who passed away earlier this year due to the effects of a sudden stroke.

Special thanks to the staff at Iron County Home Health and Hospice Alliance, and to Ethan Bunker for his extraordinary care.

Services were Friday, July 3 at Southern Utah Mortuary in Cedar City. Online condolences can be sent at www.southernutahmortuary.com.