A Celebration of a Life Well Lived for Sally Lou Farmer Leachman, age 87, of Ruston, Louisiana will be held at First Baptist Church at 11:00 am, Thursday, January 11, 2024, in the sanctuary.  Officiating the service will be Dr. Chris Craig under the direction of Kilpatrick’s funeral home.  A private interment will be held with immediate family at Forest Lawn Cemetery

A visitation will be prior to the service beginning at 9:30 am until the service starts at 11:00 am in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church.

Sally was born on December 11, 1936, in Downsville, Louisiana, and passed away in Alpine Nursing Home of Ruston on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 2:25 pm. She was a long time and faithful member of First Baptist Church of Ruston since marrying her husband Fred Marvin Leachman in 1955.  Sally loved her Lord and her family with all her heart.  She is preceded in death by her parents John Clayton and Floye Maxwell Farmer; her older sister Sybil Farmer Leachman and her two brothers, Herbert Clayton Farmer, Bobby Wayne (Butch) Farmer, and her husband of 54 years, Fred Leachman

Sally met the love of her life, Fred Marvin Leachman through her sister Sybil as she was dating and later wed Billy Edward Leachman, Fred’s brother.  Fred and Sally were married on December 29, 1955, at Downsville Methodist Church by Dr. Douglas McGuire.  The two couples were inseparable living in the same house on Everette Street in Ruston and later building houses next door to each other in a new subdivision on Brewster Street behind Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Sally graduated from Downsville High School, and attended Northwestern State College before transferring to Louisiana Tech University where she earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees plus 30 additional graduate hours. She taught school in Lincoln Parish for 30 years, most of them at Hillcrest Elementary School, teaching 5th grade.  After her retirement in 1993, she became an active member of the Lincoln Parish Retired Teachers Association, and for a time, was a volunteer at Lincoln General Hospital.

She was active in her church serving as Sunday School teacher in the children’s department and later serving as director of the young marrieds’ department.  She was active in W.M.U. and, for a time, served as the secretary of the Joy Sunday School class and as the church historian in the church’s library.

Sally loved teaching children and loved serving in the church, but her greatest joy was her family.  Sally and Fred raised two children and later became the proud grandparents to six grandchildren.  She was dedicated to family and her greatest desire was for them to know and love Jesus.

Sally is survived by two children, her son Frederick Scott (Scotty) Leachman and wife Cheryl Taylor Leachman of Ruston, and Robin Leachman Davidson and husband Joey Davidson of Ruston.  Six grandchildren, Joseph Tyler Davidson and wife Sarah Davidson of Ruston, Clayton Scott Leachman and wife Kelsey Leachman of Rogers, Arkansas, Whitney Taylor Leachman Easley and husband David Easley of Madison, Mississippi, Colton Chase Davidson and wife Alex Davidson of Heath, Texas, Kelsey Davidson Fleming and husband Patrick Fleming of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Steven Chad Leachman and wife Margret Leachman of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren and a host of extended family.

The family would like to thank Tender Touch Caregiving Service for the kindness shown in caring for Sally’s daily needs.  We would especially like to thank Linda Carr for her faithful service and loving care for Sally until she took her last breath.

The family requests that any memorials be made to First Baptist Church of Ruston Building Fund, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or to giver’s choice.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Sally Lou Leachman, please visit our Tribute Store.