Leo Henry Pope said his final goodbye to friends and family on the morning of July 22, 2025. Leo was a son, husband, father, grandfather, nephew, cousin and friend. His iconic personality will be greatly missed.
Leo Henry Pope was born on April 3, 1942, to Henry Ames Pope and Mildred Luella (Debow) Pope. He grew up on the dairy farm his parents built on Rice Road in Chehalis, where he started working as soon as he could walk. Leo learned livestock management, land and crop stewardship, how to operate and work on machinery, as well as the essential carpentry, welding, electrical and plumbing skills required of all farmers.
Leo attended Chehalis schools, where he rode his bike to school every day, riding across the dirt road that was to become I-5. Despite the demanding schedule on the family dairy farm, Leo excelled in baseball and football. He loved his time at W.F. West High School, where he served as football quarterback and team captain for the Bearcats in 1960 when the team won the state championship. A few of the records set by his team still stand to this day!
After graduation, Leo attended Centralia Community College and then Central Washington University. He worked to pay his way through college and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education, majoring in elementary education. He taught fourth grade at Winlock Elementary School for 11 years before leaving his full-time teaching job to pursue his dream of farming.
Leo was married to his first wife and high school sweetheart, Juanita “Nita” Wendling, in 1964. They had two children together before their divorce.
In 1972, Leo met (Cheryl) Diane Wallace at a Washington Education Association Rep Assembly in Olympia. They were married on Dec. 21, 1974. They lived and worked together on the farm they purchased in Galvin, Washington. Leo and Diane had one child together.
While Diane continued her teaching career, the couple both worked hard to expand the farm business, eventually buying back the land Leo’s dad had farmed in Chehalis in addition to their Galvin property. They raised beef cows and Holstein replacement heifers, grew corn and peas for the cannery, and harvested their own wheat, barley and rye. Leo and Diane worked hard in their alfalfa and grass hay business, which they kept going until 2019.
Leo was an active member of the Lewis County Farm Bureau and served as president in the 1980s. He spent a few winters supplementing the farm income by working on a crab processing boat in Alaska. In his limited recreational time, Leo enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching sports events, and helping others when and where he could. He was an avid fan of the Bearcat football team and the Seahawks to the end.
Leo is survived by his wife, C. Diane Wallace Pope; his son, Troy-Skott Pope (spouse JR Welden); daughter, Amy Audine Pope; daughter, LeAnn Crowell (spouse Ben Crowell); and grandchildren, Faith Crowell, Autumn Crowell, Ariella J. Crowell and Travis Welden-Pope; aunt, Christle (Debow) Scheuber; uncle, Ralph Debow (wife Joye Debow); as well as many cousins.
A small graveside service for family and close friends will be held at Napavine Cemetery.
All who knew and loved Leo are invited to join his family for a potluck luncheon and his Celebration of Life on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Adna Grange Hall, 123 Dieckman Road, Chehalis.
