Leroy Leon Laporte

LeRoy Leon LaPorte, 58, of Grants Pass died Thursday, April 5, 2007 at his home.
A Celebration of Life with sharing from family and friends will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, April 28, 2007 at the Elks Lodge, 207 S.W. “K” Street, Grants Pass. A light luncheon buffet will follow.
LeRoy was born December 28, 1948 in Eugene to Louis and Leona LaPorte. After High School LeRoy joined the Naval Air Force and served in Alaska and Japan. When he returned from Japan he continued his education in business and electrical courses and also earned his private pilots license. LeRoy and Devie were married in 1981, and daughters Carly and Amanda joined the family in 1982 and 1985. He was devoted to his family and loved spending time with his girls.
LeRoy was employed by Southern Pacific Railroad for 23 years as an electrician and Amtrak Trainmaster. Various positions with the railroad and railroad connected companies moved the family to Antioch, Ca.; Fort Worth, Tx.; and finally to Medford, Oregon. In 1999 he purchased Steve’s Pizza in Grants Pass and later renamed it LeRoy’s Old Fashioned Pizza and BBQ.
LeRoy was a member of the Elks Lodge, and the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce. He supported various local community organizations including the K-9 unit of Grants Pass Public Safety and the Red Cross.
He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, archery, fishing, boating, sailing, rafting, and hiking. His fishing pole named “the green machine” was famous among family and friends and could catch the big ones! His other great love was cooking.
Survivors include his daughters, Carly B. LaPorte and Amanda L. LaPorte both of Portland and his sister LaVerda L. Gallagher of Crooked River Ranch.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lovejoy Hospice, 939 S.E. 8th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon, 97526.