Tim Leighton

James Timothy Leighton, of Swan Lake, Idaho, passed away with family by his side in Preston, Idaho on Monday, March 4, 2019. He left this world peacefully, after struggling for many years with multiple illnesses.

Tim, as he was lovingly known to family and friends, was born on June 24, 1943 in Sebastopol, California, to Norma Darner and Jim Leighton. He had an older brother, Bill, older sister, Sandy, and 2 younger brothers, Mark and Randy. His family moved around a lot in Tim's youth, living in California, Nevada, and others before eventually settling in Idaho.

Tim went to school in Marsh Valley and eventually graduated from American Falls High School. He attended Idaho State University, where he graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts, and even attended a professional writing school in Mexico.

Although he lost his arm during an accident in his youth, that didn't stop Tim from being a real cowboy. He rodeoed in high school, and won a bull riding buckle. He could rope with the best of them. Tim loved being around livestock and worked for cattle ranches in Texas, Colorado and Wyoming. He continued to watch and love horses and rodeo events throughout his entire life.

In the fall of 1963, Tim met the love of his life, Tamara Heckert, on a blind date. The two fell in love and married in Pocatello, Idaho, on April 8, 1966. In 1979, Tim and Tamara moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where Tim worked as the law librarian for the attorney general's office. It was in Phoenix, after waiting 17 years, that their only child, Emily, was born. She was the light of their life. Tim quit his job and enjoyed fulfilling his role as "Mr. Mom".

In 1993, Tim and Tamara moved back to Idaho and settled in Swan Lake, where they fulfilled a lifelong dream of having property and owning cows and horses. Tim maintained his love of animals throughout his life, and he and Tamara welcomed five old English sheepdogs to the family throughout the years.

Tim and Tamara lived in Swan Lake for 25 years and made many good friends there. Anyone who knew Tim knew he had a clever sense of humor and possessed a very quick mind and sharp wit. He would drop a joke when you least expected it. Tim loved art and reading and was a member of the library board as well as the cemetery board in Swan Lake. Education was important to Tim, and throughout the years he continued taking classes of various subjects, including Spanish and art.

He enjoyed spending mornings and evenings with Tamara on the front porch, watching the hummingbirds and appreciating Tamara's flowers. He also loved taking drives to small towns and enjoyed birds and wildlife. However, his greatest love was always his family. Tamara was his best friend and such a joy in Tim's life. She had the pleasure of caring for him while he was sick in his last years, and she was delighted to do so. Tim was especially proud of Emily and her husband Matt, and his grandchildren, Addie and Jackson, and was ecstatic to welcome a third granddaughter, Elsie, just 6 months ago. He would so look forward to any time he got to spend with them.

Tim is preceded in death by his mother, Norma; father, Jim; sister Sandy; and brother, Bill. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Tamara; daughter, Emily (Matt) Taylor, and his grandchildren, Addie, Jack, and Elsie.

Funeral services will be held in the Swan Lake chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Friday, March 8, 2019. A brief viewing will be held that morning at 10:30 a.m., with services starting at noon. Interment will be at the Swan Lake Cemetery following the memorial services.

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