Leslie Susan “Les” Lehmer
( July 10, 1964 – August 21, 2023 )
Leslie Susan “Les” Lehmer (nee Fife), 59, passed away at home in Raton, New Mexico on August 21, 2023, after a battle against cancer. Leslie is survived by her husband of 22 years James (Jim); children Meghann (Jeremy) McLeroy, Morgann Lehmer, Erin, Mel, and Gloria Anderson; grandchildren Ryan, Lindsay, Logan, and Hannah McLeroy; mother Susan Fife; siblings Matt (Brenda) Fife, Seth (Jennifer) Fife, Sarah (Brian) Finney; mother-in-law Barb Lehmer; uncles Scott (Bridget) White, Sanderson “Sandy” Houghton; aunts Linda Greve, Leta Hunt and Mary Rook; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Les was preceded in death by her father, William “Bill” Fife, and father-in-law Louis “Lou” Lehmer.
Les was born in Jefferson City, Missouri on July 10, 1964, and baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. She attended Trinity Lutheran School and graduated from Jefferson City High School in 1982. She married Robert “Bob” Anderson in 1993, and together they had three children, Erin in 1996 and twins Mel and Gloria in 1998. She and Bob divorced and she remarried to Jim Lehmer on October 5, 2000, gaining two new children and four grandchildren. She moved from Jefferson City, Missouri to Raton, New Mexico in 2023.
Les worked in healthcare her whole life – pharmacy tech, optometrist’s assistant, CNA, LPN and finally RN. During that time she also received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems and was working on a Master’s in Health Informatics until the cancer diagnosis. She loved travel, music, good food, laughter around the table, and penguins. She loved singing, especially in the Heart of Missouri Sweet Adelines chorus. Les was a strong supporter of equal rights on every spectrum, and tried to see and love people as they wanted to be seen and loved. She felt that was what God wanted from her, as a professional and as a friend.
Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 31, at Houser Millard Funeral Directors, 2613 West Main Street, Jefferson City, Missouri. A visitation at 10:00 am followed by a public funeral service at 11:00 am on Friday, September 1, 2023, will be performed by Pastor Russ Bowder at Faith Lutheran Church, 2027 Industrial Drive, Jefferson City, Missouri. A private family graveside service will follow. She will be interred at Riverview Cemetery next to her father Bill. A public Celebration of Life will be held on the afternoon of Sunday, October 15. Details to follow on Facebook.
Donations may be sent to the Sweet Adelines Heart of Missouri Chorus. Thanks to hospice nurse Robin Pilley, Dr. Muath Dawod at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center, and all the staff of Miners Colfax Medical Center hospital and clinic for their excellent care.
Arrangements were made by Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home in Raton, New Mexico, and Houser-Millard Funeral Directors in Jefferson City, Missouri.
