Helen "Lennie" Louise (Leonard) GiffordHelen was born to George and Hannetta Leonard on July 10, 1925 in East Liverpool, Ohio and passed away on April 12, 2105 in Anacortes, WA. She lived in East Liverpool through grade school, attended high school in Chicago, Illinois, and went to college at the University of Colorado where she studied business. Her favorite extra-curricular activity was her active participation in the University of Colorado Hiking Club. She met the love of her life, Jack Gifford, at the University of Colorado and they were married in 1948 in Bond Chapel, University of Chicago campus. After college they moved to New Jersey where their two sons were born. Before their birth and after their sons were raised she held a variety of accounting and bookkeeping positions.In 1962 they moved to Vashon/Maury Island where they stayed for the rest of their lives. They often remarked to each other on how lucky they were to live on Vashon/Maury. Such an ideal location and so many wonderful friends. She was a dedicated and much loved Mother, volunteered for parent support activities in schools, supported many charitable, social, and religious organizations both in New Jersey and Vashon. She was especially fond of her P.E.O. chapter and her participation in Quartermaster Yacht Club of which she and Jack were life members. Helen and Jack together built their much loved sailboat "Sea Dreamer II" and had many happy cruises on it. Her dedication to and love of family was beautiful to see. She and Jack loved and enjoyed each other, family, friends, travel, sailing, their home of more than 50 years on Quartermaster Harbor, and life in general. Helen also enjoyed gardening, bridge, piano playing, genealogy, swimming, tole painting, calligraphy, and oil painting and created many beautiful pieces. She will be remembered by all as a loving, pleasant, beautiful and gentle person. Helen is survived bytwo sons and their wives, John and Janet of La Conner, Washington and Paul and Janette of Isle of Palms, South Carolina; grandsons Jarad, Kevan (and his wife Becky Jo), Brian, Kamron; granddaughter Stephanie;step-grandson Brian Kayler, and sister-in-laws Janet Leonard of Illinois and Jean Gifford of England. Remembrances to charity of your choice on Vashon Island, Children's Hospital (Seattle) or the University of Washington Alzheimer's Research Center (http://depts.washington.edu/adrcweb/).A graveside service was held at Vashon Cemetery on April 19, 2015.No additional service is planned.