Lee Jay Leighton

Lee Jay Leighton, 67, of Cotton, MN and Hollywood, FL, passed away Thursday, August 25, 2022 at his East Bass Lake Cabin. Lee was born on July 19, 1955 in St. Paul to Robert and Elaine (Norlander) Leighton. Lee was raised in Duluth and graduated from Duluth East High School where he competed on the swim team. Lee graduated Cum Laude from UMD in 1977 where he earned a degree in Sociology and Criminology.

Lee attended William Mitchell College of Law and subsequently started his own law firm, Leighton and Crabtree. Lee had an intense spirit of adventure and traveled the world. Each college summer was a new adventure from working for Kemp Paulicci commercial salmon fishing in Alaska, to hitchhiking & biking across America, from California to Maine and even ventured into the Canadian Rockies, to his UMD approved independent study program of the Mayan Indians Guatemala.  

After retiring from his law firm, Lee sailed his boat the “LEEWAY” down the St. Croix River, via the Mississippi river, out to the Gulf of Mexico, ending in touring the islands of the Caribbean. Lee then moved to Thailand for 3 years and made many more friends, before journeying to the Florida Keys, spending a decade wintering in Cudjoe Key. He fulfilled a dream of visiting Cuba; even taking his boat the 90 miles from the Florida Keys to Varadero.

Lee’s most treasured days were spent summering at East Bass Lake. His passion was in connecting with family, friends and strangers alike. He thrived on those relationships and creatively planned many lake parties. Connecting with people is what made him special. Lee was generous with his knowledge and skills, and mentored young adults, helping them realize their own potential. He will be profoundly missed by all who knew him for his generosity, kind heartedness and the laughter that came with being his friend.  He was without a doubt, one of a kind. To know him, was to love him. 

Lee is survived by his wife Lourdes Leighton (Garcia-Lavin), a daughter, Kelsey Jun (Leighton-Han) of Stillwater, MN; Nancy Jean Niebuhr (Dyslin), former wife and mother of Kelsey; his “boys”, many other  family and his friends, near and afar. As well as his faithful and beloved Doodle - Party Girl, aka Kelsey’s sister.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Lynette K. Leighton.

Private family services were held. Burial at Forest Hill Cemetery. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home. 600 East 2^nd St., Duluth MN 55805, 218-727-355.