Gerald Leatherman

Gerald Thomas "Gerry" Leatherman, age 95, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 26, 2014. He was born on a farm near Lima, Ohio on August 27, 1918, the only child of Victor and Frances Leatherman. Gerry began his schooling in a one-room school and graduated from Shawnee High School in Ohio. He knew how hard farming was and wanted to do something else. He attended Ohio Northern University and received a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1939 and then went on to Ohio State, receiving a master's degree in chemistry in 1940. He began working for Phillips Petroleum Company in 1941 in the Research Department when it was located downtown. He was injured in an explosion that happened there in the 1940s and he later moved to the Specialty Chemical Division where he did a lot of traveling selling Phillips' products. He retired after 43 years of service in 1984. On February 2, 1952, Gerry and Elizabeth Slaughter were united in marriage. The couple had met in the bowling alley at Phillips. Two children were born to the union, Vicki and Warren, in 1953 and 1954. He had many interests and led a very active life up until recent years. He enjoyed fishing, biking, playing bridge, camping and traveling. He was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church of Bartlesville, joining in the 1940s. He served as Deacon, Elder, and Sunday school teacher and participated in the callers' group and Stephen's Ministry. Gerry was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth, of the family home in Bartlesville; daughter, Vicki Esser and her husband, Rick, of Bartlesville; son, Warren Leatherman of Spring, Texas; 5 grandchildren, Matt Esser of Denver, Colorado, Lori Esser of Bartlesville, Tabor, Alex and Natalie Leatherman of Spring, Texas; great-granddaughter, Claire Esser of Denver, Colorado; and various nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been set up to remember him at First Presbyterian Church, 505 S. Dewey, Bartlesville, OK 74003, or the YMCA, 101 Osage, Bartlesville, OK 74003.

Service Details

Saturday, September 6th, 2014 11:00am, First Presbyterian Church - Bartlesville