Leah, age 72 died after a six month battle with cancer. She was born Shirley Bowington on September 27, 1946 in Kermit, Texas. She lived most of her life in Jal, NM. After graduating high school from there she attended one year at Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, TX before she went on to pursue a career in the Navy.
She was stationed in San Francisco, CA where she met and married her husband and later gave birth to her son Eric. After the military she went on to have an 8 year career with the Oakland Raiders soon being promoted to housemother for the Raiderettes. Through the years she has become a very accomplished portrait artist, a licensed massage therapist, a licensed hypnotherapist and certified in EFT. Before moving from California she adopted her daughter Tamar who she followed to Helena where she has lived since.
She was proceeded death by her parents Ralph and Thelma Bowington, three older sisters and her daughter Tamar. She is survived by her son, Eric, of Fullerton, CA; a sister, Beverly and husband John Burson, of Roswell, NM; and many of the most dedicated and loving friends that a person could have. God bless them all.
Services are pending at this time and will be announced once they are complete. Please visit below to leave a condolence or share a memory of Leah.
Rose Miller says
I am just stunned & devastated about beautiful Leah, she was one of those most sweet amazing strong women I have ever had the privilege of knowing!! She will be sorely missed by all who adored & loved her dearly!!!
Rose Miller says
I am just stunned & devastated about beautiful Leah, she was one of the most sweet, amazing, strong women I have ever had the privilege of knowing!! She will be sorely missed by all who adored & loved her dearly!!!
Lonita lee Dalton says
I couldn’t get you out of my mind all day yesterday, sweet Angel! I passed by your house on the first day of the month and you were not there. I am so blessed to know you, dearest Lady. We will meet soon once again and dance to beautiful music. Harry can’t stop crying. He loves you so much!
Orlinda Worthington says
I was always so appreciative of how Leah supported my endeavors, both spiritual and otherwise. She attended my August talk at Helena Center of Conscious Living, even though possibly not feeling her best. She attended and contributed such wise thoughts to my second Sunday group, Exploring Spiritual Possibility. She will be missed by many. Orlinda
Pat Reagan says
I will always cherish the portraits that you painted for me Leah. May the lord give comfort to your love ones.” You are now in the hands of our lord Jesus Christ now and for ever.” R.I.P. Leah.
Pat Reagan
Cd’a, Ida.
Jeannette Jackson says
I am so so saddened. My deepest condolences to all of Leah’s family and friends. I treasure so many lovely memories of Leah on the Magic Egypt trip we shared together in 2012 where we met..Leah was one of the nicest sweetest ladies I have ever met..I will never ever forget her caring and kindness, especially more so when I became ill on that trip.. she genuinely cared and looked out for me. Such a warm, beautiful, kind, strong, creative, lovely lady..such a divine and caring soul…I feel blessed and very grateful to have known her. Rest peacefully now Leah.. love, light and eternal peace.
Jeannette Andrea Jackson
Heather says
Dearest Leah , so very sad to hear of your passing . Like Jeanette I met Leah in Egypt and was lucky enough to share a room with her . What a beautiful , kind , gentle soul . I feel so blessed to have met her . RIP darling .
Heather ( Zara )
Chris Passano says
I knew Leah. She was a kind friend to me. Her paintings were amazing. They both captured the subjects spirit, and were somehow healing at the same time.
I played bluesey harmonica compositions get her when we met. She supported me both spiritually and emotionally, as both a client and a friend.
I am missing her
Joanne Kliejunas says
Leah was my assistant at Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund and a dear, generous friend. It was a somewhat tumultuous time for Leah and Tamar, but she navigated developments with grace and unwavering kindness for all those she interacted with. When my husband and I married, Leah created a stunningly accurate pastel, our wedding portrait, that still hangs prominently in our home. What a talent and a saintly woman she was! I send her love and feel hers for all of us now.
Liz Sutherland says
I was very lucky to have Leah as my assistant at Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund in the early 1990s. She was a deeply loving woman whose kindness never failed. She was a generous and wonderfully talented artist who painted a large and beautiful commemorative oil painting of my husband, Rick Sutherland.
Leah and I were in touch after she moved to Kalispell. She was a loving and supportive mother to Tamar and Eric. I hope Leah found peace and joy in her later years. Her sweet personality and talent will not be forgotten.