The Worthington Times

Dennise M. Leslie of Freedom, Indiana, mother of Jeffrey Kennedy and Christopher Kennedy, was killed in the line of duty as a volunteer firefighter responding to a fire on July 2, 2007.  She was 40 years old, born March 26, 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Dennise was a North Vigo High School graduate and a member of the New Hope Baptist Church.  She was a childcare provider, a licensed foster parent, and had driven a Special Needs bus for the Spencer-Owen Community School System.

Dennise was a volunteer firefighter with the Coal City Volunteer Fire Department where she had held the positions of Secretary and President. She was also a member of the Owen County Rescue Team and the Rope and Water Rescue Team. She was certified in mandatory fire fighting, NIMS 100,200,700, EVOC, CPR, First Aid, basic auto extraction, and AED.

Mrs. Leslie is survived by her husband of 10 years, Robert W. Leslie; sons Christopher Kennedy, at home, and Jeffrey (Alicia) Kennedy of Paxton, Indiana; her father, Dennis Neal of Terre Haute; her grandfather, Jim Edward Sr. of Terre Haute; her mother and step-father, Jim and Diana L. (Delp) Edwards of West Terre Haute; brother, Daniel Neal of West Terre Haute and sister, Jamie Edwards of West Terre Haute; grandparents Gerald Delp of Newport, Marjorie Parsley of Vettersburg and Rose Neal of Athens, Tennessee.

A funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 7 at the Owen Valley High School Auditorium in Spencer. Visitation will be 4:00-9:00 p.m. on Friday, July 6, also at the school. West & Parish & Pedigo Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.  Memorial contributions may be made to the children in care of the funeral home.