Leland's Legacy
return to memory wallIn Loving Memory by Regina Markham Ward
Leland Ward was born on July 12, 1947, and raised in Brooksville, Florida. When I first met Leland we both were in High School, in 1965. We started dating, and were later married in 1967. From the time we met I knew Leland was special. Leland had such appreciation for nature. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He was already a skilled outdoorsman, from the time he was old enough to follow his Father's footsteps, hunting for squirrels, rabbits and birds to help feed their family. As Leland grew older he would hunt and fish around Hernando and Citrus County, in Central Florida.
Leland and I were blessed with two sons, Randy and James, and from the time they were old enough to sit up in a car seat, they went hunting with us. When Randy and James could walk, they followed Leland and I in the woods to hunt for deer, quail, dove, squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, wild hogs and anything else that flew, hopped, ran, crawled, or swam that could be eat.
Leland taught our children and I how to hunt and fish. We learned how to read the game sign, and where all the best places were to find wild game. He shared all his experience and knowledge with his family, and extended family as well. Leland loved walking in the forests looking for new areas to hunt in, exploring the game trails and looking for game sign. In all the years I had known him , Leland never lost his way in the woods. He was truly amazing when he walked into a new area to hunt. If it was the first time he had ever been there, Leland had a sixth sense, he could always come back out where he went in. Leland never used a compass to do this, he taught us that the sun, moon and stars were the compass, and all you had to do was pay attention to the landmarks around you.
In the 1980's we moved to Mayo, Florida in Lafayette county where we built our home. Leland loved this area of the State, especially the abundance of forests and rivers to hunt and fish. It was here, we raised our children and had the best memories with our family and friends. Leland truck farmed, raising sweet potatoes, tomatoes and many other vegetables to sell. When Leland was not farming he was hunting and fishing.
Leland was elected to the Royal Gorge Hunting club as a Board Member, on which he served till he passed away. Leland was a advocate of game management. He believed in preservation for the club and worked tirelessly to help plant food plots year round to help build the game herds in the club, as well patrolling the club to ensure gates were locked to maintain club property.
Over the years Leland made many friends in the woods while he was hunting . Many times it was a stranger that needed help to find their way , or an old friend that just needed a hand to load up a deer or hog into their truck. Leland always was there to help.
I would have to write a book to tell all the stories of all the wonderful , fun times we have had over the years while we were hunting together with our family and friends.
I can say that I am truly blessed to have had the experience of walking with Leland on our journey in life together. Though it ended too soon for me, when Leland passed away on December 22, 2007. On the day Leland died, he had been out hunting with his sons, Randy and James earlier in the day. It was later that afternoon at home, when his journey ended. Leland was living his life doing what he loved, hunting with his family.
Leland touched many lives, as my husband of 41 years, as a father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. We miss him , he is forever in our hearts.
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