Moreita "Pat" Leslie

A Life Well Lived

Longtime culinary and family living expert Pat Leslie of Olympia, WA, left us doing what she loved best. While preparing a meal in her kitchen, the Lord took her home. She was 93.

Pat was a treasured mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She began her career as a public-school teacher in Texas. She was a 35-year dedicated faculty member of Washington State University as a County Extension Agent for Grays Harbor, Pacific, Okanogan and Mason counties. Her educational programs covered public seminars, workshops, classes, and counseling. She taught all phases of family living including food nutrition, clothing, textiles, child development, housing, and finance. She earned State and National Awards as an Outstanding Extension Home Economist. She then began a long career in her Cuisine Plus and Pat’s Kitchen businesses as a writer, teacher, consultant, and chef. She had a fulfilling and rewarding journey in all her endeavors touching many lives.

Pat was born on July 21,1932, in Seattle, WA, to Alexander Pigott and Moreita Howard Pigott. She grew up with a passion for food and travel and a commitment to faith, family, and friends. She graduated from Roosevelt High School where she played violin in the All-City Orchestra, Oregon State University (Bachelor of Science in Home Economics) where she was president of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, and the University of Puget Sound where she earned a master's degree in public administration.

She was first married to Gordon Lyle in Seattle. They welcomed sons Mark (Marcia) and Kenyon (Debi) Lyle. She later married Robert Leslie of Montesano. She was blessed with his sons Jim, Bob Jr. (Sue), and Tom (Ranay) Leslie. Robert was a Washington State Game Officer. It was a real eye-opener for the city girl learning how to care for abandoned animals in their home, including several bear cubs, which were very entertaining. The blended family spent many days waterskiing, exploring the woods seeking wildlife, camping in primitive areas, picking berries, gathering mushrooms, ocean fishing, and razor clam digging. Pat enjoyed and continued digging her own clams well into her 80s.

Pat was a member of several organizations: WSU Faculty Senate, WSU President’s All Faculty on Teacher Education Council, National and State 4H Agent Associations, Washington Food and Nutrition Council, American Association of Housing Educators, Northwest Adult Education Association, American Home Economics Association, Epsilon Sigma Phi, International Association of Culinary Professionals, Portland Culinary Alliance, Olympia PEO, and the Olympia United Methodist Church.

She traveled all over the world, touring cities in Europe, Asia, South America, and North America. She studied at the Greenbrier Cooking School and Uwajimaya Cooking School. She was a guest in Julia Child’s home in France while attending her cooking school, and she stayed at Lotti Rosy’s Toscana Cooking School in Tuscany where she became good friends with celebrity chef Christopher Covelli. She also studied under Emeril Lagasse, Paul Prudhomme, and Jacques Pepin. When she was out of her kitchen, she would be in her backyard garden tending to herbs, tomatoes and flowering plants.

She was an author of several publications and wrote a weekly column for the Aberdeen Daily World called “In Tempo.”

Pat is survived by sons Jim Leslie, Bob Leslie Jr, Tom Leslie and Kenyon Lyle, twelve grandchildren, and nineteen great grandchildren who will forever treasure her memory and continue to honor her legacy. She was preceded in death by her parents Alex and Moreita Pigott, brother George Pigott, and son Mark Lyle.

Pat lived her life serving and giving to others. She had an array of friends far and wide who she kept up with through visits, calls, texts, email, cards, and letters. One of her greatest joys was teaching the younger generation how to cook, take care of themselves and others. Her lessons will have a lasting impact on her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A gathering to celebrate Pat’s life will be held at 1 PM on November 29 at the Colonial Estates Clubhouse, 3700 14th Ave SE, Olympia WA, 98501. Family and friends are invited to attend and share their memories. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made to the Seattle Children’s Hospital or the Olympia Fire Department, both of which were close to her heart.