Sidney Ray Leffler was born May 9, 1956, in Chester, MT to Ted and Edna “Nicki” Leffler. He arrived after a breech delivery with double hernias, limited ability to swallow and other weakness. He was diagnosed to suffer from Marfan Syndrome several years later. The family moved to Chelan, where his father worked for the Chelan County PUD, when Sidney was 6 weeks old. At that time, we were told that he probably would never live or if he did, he would never walk. Marfan Syndrome affects every muscle in a person’s body, especially the heart, so staying alive was a battle! We exercised his arms and legs and literally force fed him very slowly and he responded by trying to do everything his older brothers did, as he continued to survive. He graduated from Mead High School in Spokane, took classes in community college and at Eastern in Cheney to receive a B.A. in Social Work, an A.A.  and an A.A.S. in Gerontology, certified as a nursing assistant in Washington State. Sidney worked at nursing homes in Spokane, caring for the elderly and young special needs people his own age. He formed lifetime bonds with Dale and John at that time. As he aged, his muscles became weak and his shoulders popped out of their sockets and he could no longer care for others.

He moved to Wenatchee and lived in Garden Terrace and volunteered to help at the Wenatchee Senior Center. He loved renting costumes so he could be anything or anybody and make people laugh. He spent weekends at Manson mowing grass at his mother’s home and evenings at the casino. December was spent at Lake Havasu City, AZ and Mexico, bringing chocolate candy filled with Kahlua or Bailey’s Irish Cream to share at the Senior Center. He suffered a ruptured appendix February 25, 2013 and was diagnosed with liver cancer. Sid calmly said “I’ve been a fighter all my life and this will be my biggest battle.” He died May 5, 2013 at Highline Convalescent Center, a place that he had applied for a job June 9, 1999.

Sidney was preceded in death by his father, Ted Leffler; brother, Charlie Leffler. He is survived by his mother, “Nicki”; sister, Heidi Leffler; brothers, Donald, Nelson and Bill Leffler.