KATHY J. LEYVA
February 7, 1953 ˜ December 30, 2022
A celebration of life for former Battle Ground Public Schools teacher Kathy Leyva has been scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, in the gymnasium of the district’s Glenwood Heights Primary School, 9716 N.E. 134th St., Vancouver.
Mrs. Leyva, who taught third-and fourth-grade classes at Glenwood Heights for 28 years, died Dec. 30, 2022, in a Vancouver hospital. She was 69.
Born Kathy Jean Heilig on Feb. 7, 1953, in Portland, OR, Mrs. Leyva was one of three daughters of George E. and Florence E. Heilig. She attended Capitol Hill Elementary School in southwest Portland and was a graduate of since-closed Jackson High School.
She completed a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education at Portland State University.
Mrs. Leyva taught special education in Porterville, CA, for 10 years before moving to Vancouver. She was briefly a substitute teacher in the Battle Ground district before accepting a full-time position at Glenwood Heights.
She retired in 2016.
Mrs. Leyva is survived by a son, Nick Leyva of Vancouver; and sisters, Joan Lennox (Ed) of Tigard, OR, and Judy Krueger (Rick) of Spartanburg, SC.
Former colleagues, students and friends of Mrs. Leyva are invited to attend the Jan. 29 gathering in the Glenwood Heights gymnasium.
In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Leyva’s family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Washington. Learn more at
southwesthumane.org.
Please share a memory @ www.columbian.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Kathy Leyva was a caring, inspiring teacher to my daughters. In her soft, gentle way she provided encouragement and guidelines that met their individual needs. I was also fortunate to watch her son Nick, perform on stage in high school as I was a teacher where he attended. Wishing the family fond memories of her.
Kathy Scobba
January 29, 2023
Kathy and I were classmates at Capitol Hill Elem. where we played on the softball team. In the photo, she is stanfing to the right of the "trophy". We were in other clubs, too. I remember her as a sweet, thoughtful friend.
Laurie
Friend
January 27, 2023
Kathy was my dental patient for many years and she and Nick were delightful to be around. I will always have fond memories of Kathy and Nick. And I wish Nick and the family continued good memories of this delightful lady.
Earl C. Simpson, D.D.S.
Other
January 22, 2023
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