Brian Leach, 64, of Tonasket/Omak, Wash., died suddenly Aug. 3 of a heart attack.

Born Feb. 19, 1954 in San Diego, Brian attended elementary and high school in Salt Lake City, Utah, where, after graduating, he left immediately for a career in the Navy.

Brian proudly served the Navy for 22 years, entering during the conflict in Southeast Asia, where he earned the Bronze Star. In 2002, he retired honorably as a senior chief aviation ordnanceman in Oak Harbor.

Being of service to others was a defining purpose in Brian’s life. He served the Interfaith, Kairos Prison Ministry in Northwestern Washington, involved himself deeply in the recovery ministries and most recently enjoyed driving a school bus as “Mr. Brian” to students in the Oak Harbor and Tonasket school districts.

Brian is survived by his siblings and their spouses, Shannon and JoAnn Leach (Las Vegas, Nev.), Anne (nee Leach) and Paul Kundtz (Bainbridge Island), and Stewart and Lea Leach (Durango, Colo.), as well as his nieces and nephews, Thomas, Andrew, Matthew, Molly, Christopher and Patrick. He married Deborah Rains in 1975 and later divorced.

Brian will be missed by his recovery community and his school bus colleagues and children. The family would like to thank all of the people of Tonasket and Omak for the love and support Brian received, and for all the assistance and gentle love they so willingly gave us in these past days.