Coleman Stockdale Leuthy

My acquaintance with Coleman began at the University of  Washington where I was his Botany lab instructor.  In no time at all Coleman fit into our group of botany majors going on skiing trips in Doug Post's '38 Buick, or off to Marj Hayner's folks' cabin on Lopez or on a Hitchcock botany field trip.  Upon returning to the Seattle area after having been gone some 35 years, I renewed our friendship through the Native Plant Society and the Rock Garden  Society in which he had established important roles.   His kind, friendly demeanor, all-around versatility, love of nature and teaching, willingness to tackle any job earned him a special spot in many memories.

Coleman and I met along time ago in a meeting where we discused a gate for his entrance to his house that would permit the summer breezes to flow in.  I asked what do you have in mind, creating the next ten years of thought. Then one day when we were hiking the sun shone him with his smile and it came to me   

      I met Coleman in the mid 70’s, he and my father taught at Nathan Hale together.    Dad worked Real Estate in his off time and sold a property on Eagle creek to Coleman.   I remember this because as a down payment, Coleman paid with a horse.  Pica al Urfa, a little Arab that we rode for years until her death in 2002.  Coleman would stop by to visit us and Pica in the Teanaway valley on his trips over Blewitt pass.   He left a lasting impression on me as someone with a zest for life.  He was always ready with a smile and a fun attitude.  He showed up one time and I was getting ready to put the shake roof down on a little cabin I had built up in the woods.   He jumped up on the ladder and worked all day.  I remember being impressed that here was this very cool adult that would spend a day helping a kid with a project.    My Mom, Shirley, and I, both took his mushroom classes a couple of times.  To this date I still walk through the woods with the lasting knowledge he gave to me with my eyes on the ground for dinner.   Who could forget his handle bar mustache, 50’s era Mercedes, the unique signature he used for the main office at Hale, gourmet dinners at his place after mushroom hunting and his vibrant personality.  We were the lucky ones to know him. 

 
Memories of My Big Brother, Cole

On my first day of grade school when I got to the cross-walk, who did I see but my big brother, Coleman with his red flag and white crossing belt there to guide me across the street.
I was so proud.

When I was about 14, Coleman organized and led us, Don Grimland, Art Nation and myself on a 12 day, 118 mile trek through the Olympic Mountains. We started on Hurricane Ridge,then down through the valleys following the Bailey Range. We passed through Dosi Meadows and into Queets Basin, which at that time had only seen three or four people ever. Leaving Queets Basin, we traveled up the Humes Glacier. At the top, we emerged through a notch, then across the Hoh Glacier, trekking through a pass arriving at the top of the Blue Glacier. Yodeling and jumping crevasses, we traveled down the Blue to Glacier Meadows. The next day, we were met by our friends and resupplied with food. The following day, we all climbed Mt. Olympus, crossing the Blue, hiking up the Snow Dome, around the false summit and finally reaching the true summit before returning to Glacier Meadows. On the final morning, we made the 18 mile trek out to the Hoh River Ranger Station, got in our cars and drove to the Hot Springs where we each had a hamburger and a whole quart of milk! Yum!

I remember our dinners at Mom and Dad's. Cole always liked to take a short nap after the meal. He'd curl up under the grand piano so that his little nephews wouldn't run over him.

In 1966, I was going through a pretty tough time in my life when Coleman said, “Come with me to Sun Valley and we'll ski the blues away.” Every morning we would get on the chairlift in the dark and as we rose up the mountain, we were greeted by the rising sun which warmed us and made us smile. The week was fantastic and healing for me. Thank you, Coleman.

There's not one of us who will ever forget Coleman's 80^th birthday party that he hosted at the cabin. Coleman had a special parking spot reserved for me and Diana as well as for Cameron, David and Chris. It was a two day trip for us traveling from the Southern Oregon coast, but when we arrived Cole had a nice cabin down the road all set up for us. Special guy, huh?

It would be impossible to have had a more caring brother than Coleman was to me.
I see him each day in all of nature's creations.


Forever in my memories,
Phillip Leuthy

 

 

We didn't know Coleman that well, but had many conversation with him over the years because he rented our beach house in Cannon Beach ,OR with friends for 7 months of the year.

When we got new partners and decided to remodel the house, Coleman and friends didn't have any more opportunities to rent it.  I think it was sad time for him.  I know he enjoyed his time there.  I believe it was Coleman who had a ramp built up to one of the windows for his cat. 

He did get to go and stay for a few days after we were done with the remodel.  He said it was nice but he said that he really he missed the rustic old house held...together with duct tape.

Judy Crowell