Elaine Leiter

Elaine Leiter, 53, died Thursday, October 22, 2009, at an Abilene medical center. Elaine Perkins was born July 16, 1956 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was the third child and second daughter of Frank Warren Perkins and Pauline Dearman Perkins. Elaine attended Christian High School, later Lexington Christian Academy from 1970-1974. She graduated with a College Preparatory Diploma. In June of 1974, Elaine and her parents moved to Spokane, Washington to be nearer to her sister and her family. She attended Whitworth College, a Presbyterian Liberal Arts college, and graduated with a B.A. in English Literature, and a Religion minor in 1980. Elaine worked at a variety of jobs until 1985, when she began a two-year program at Spokane Falls Community College in TV Production. She did an internship at KSPS, the PBS station in Spokane. In the summer of 1986, she lived in Somerville, MA while doing an internship at WBZ TV in Boston. After returning to Spokane to begin the 2nd year of the program, Elaine met Ssgt. Don Leiter, USAF, through a mutual friend. After graduation, Elaine moved to Seattle and then Olympia, to work. In the spring of 1988, Elaine returned to Spokane, as she and Don became engaged, and then married in July of that year. In a special part of that ceremony, Crystal promised to be Elaine's Daughter, while Elaine promised to be Crystal's Mom. Elaine became a "Stay-at-Home Mom", although she returned to work at KSPS on a free-lance basis, which continued even after the birth of Robert Benjamin Leiter in March of 1989. In July of 1992, the family moved to Bury Saint Edmunds, England, when Don was assigned to RAF Mildenhall. They all became active in Christ Church Moreton Hall, near their home. Elaine was a secretary, taught Sunday School, and was on the Fayre planning committee. They stayed in Bury for the entire 4 years. The Leiters moved to Abilene, when Don was transferred to Dyess AFB in 1996, where she was active in the community and was church secretary at Westminster Presbyterian Church for 7 years. Don and Elaine attended Palo Duro Presbyterian Cursillo #13 in April 2004. She has been an enthusiastic participant in Cursillo ever since, and the community has lovingly supported her and her family through her illness. She enjoyed hot air ballooning, riding motorcycles and Cursillo activities, and made many precious friendships. Elaine was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Samuel Warren Perkins. Survivors include her husband, Don Leiter of Abilene; son, Robert Benjamin Leiter of Midland; daughter, Crystal Marie Thayer of Spokane, Washington; and two grandchildren, Dante Thayer and Jade Thayer. Elaine is also survived by her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Chris and Don Leiter of Dover, Delaware, and her sister, Bette Brinkley of Lewiston, Idaho. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, October 26, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Abilene with Rev. Jim Wallace officiating..