Paul R. Leader, 89

Paul R. Leader, 89, passed away in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Monday, May 16, 2016.

A family celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

Paul was born on Sept. 13, 1926, in Plentywood, Mont., the son of William and Mary J. Leader. In 1932, the family moved to the Priest River, Idaho, area, where Paul grew up and attended local schools. As a young man he joined the U.S. Navy, went through boot camp at Farragut, and served in the Pacific Theater of operations during World War II.

Following the war, he returned to Priest River and started working in the logging camps of the day. He would become an operating engineer, following heavy construction sites in Coeur d’Alene and the Northwest. Locally, he worked on both the Cabinet Gorge Dam and the Albeni Falls Dam prior to his retirement in 1992.

He was a member of the Eagles Lodge, Aerie No. 589, Bonner County Sportsman’s Association, the American Legion, a lfetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed the backcountry, hiking, hunting and fishing in the area.

He married Donna on Jan. 2, 1987, in Coeur d’Alene.

Paul is survived by his wife, Donna Leader, in Sagle, Idaho; his daughter, Yvonne (Jim) Robertson in Englewood, Fla.; his stepdaughters, Sandra Allen in Sagle, and Terri (Will) Markley in Spokane Valley, Wash.; three granddaughters, Bobbi (Jerry) Harrison in Clackamas, Ore., Paula Rae (Ron) Greenland in Englewood, and Nikki Robertson (Jesse) Harris in Englewood; and by 10 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death in, 1979, by his first wife Barbara; his parents, and his brothers and sisters.

An entry made by his father in his baby book read, “may your life be like a snowflake and leave a mark and not a stain.”

Family and friends are invited to sign Paul’s online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com.

Final arrangements are entrusted to Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint, Idaho.