Obituary of Leslie Elmer Tiffany

Friends may pay their respects beginning at 11:30 AM at the Church prior to the service. Leslie E. Tiffany Leslie Elmer Tiffany, 87 of Olympia, died Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at his home from complications of a stroke. Mr. Tiffany was born May 4, 1921 on the Salt River Indian Reservation near Scottsdale, Arizona to Asa York and Ellen Celeste (Earl) Tiffany. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Arizona State University in 1951. He had been married to the former Roberta Rose Turner who died in 1977. On June 22, 1985 at the LDS Temple in Seattle he married the former Earlene Ariel Hicks, who survives. Leslie had served in the U. S. Marine Corp. during WWII in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1946 as an NCO on a reconnaissance crew. He was on 33 enemy islands over a thirty month period. He attended Phoenix College, received his Bachelor of Arts degree at Arizona State College in 1951. He continued with his graduate studies at Clairemont, California. He later attended classes at the University of California, Riverside, Utah State University and the University of Utah. After receiving his degree, he became a teacher and served in that capacity for forty years. He had served as president of his Lions Club in both Montclair and Ontario, California and then served as Deputy District Governor for seventeen clubs within Lions International. Mr Tiffany was honored by the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania as the #1 Citizen of the United States. The Foundation awarded Leslie the George Washington Medal for service to others and a Moon Flag shoulder patch which, which was one of six worn to the moon by Astronaut Neil Armstrong and his fellow astronauts. Leslie enjoyed collecting clocks, coaching Little League and other youth sports. He played basketball as a player coach until he was fifty years old. He was a High Priest and served in various capacities within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the High Priest Group leadership and as Ward Mission Leader for several years and also served in the Seattle Temple as an ordinance worker for nearly eight years. Survivors in addition to his wife Earlene, include three sons, Kenneth R. Tiffany, Adrian, Oregon, Leslie E. Tiffany II, Redmond, Washington, and Brian M. Dixon, Lacey, Washington; two daughters, Sue Tiffany, Kent, Washington and Sheryl Lyn Tiffany, Tacoma, Washington; a brother, Max Tiffany, Omaha, Nebraska; seventeen grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at the Nisqually Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on the corner of Meridian Rd. and 4th Avenue in Olympia. Those who wish may pay their respects beginning at 11:30 AM at the Church. Interment will follow at 3:00 PM at Mills & Mills Memorial Park in Tumwater. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Missionary Fund, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lacey 4th Ward, 9341 4th Ave. NE, Olympia, WA, 98516. Please leave condolences by clicking on "View Guestbook" below.