Leas D. Dickey, USAF

June 02, 1942 – November 21, 2017

Leas was born on June 2nd, 1942, in Oakland, California to Marion and Mary Rae Dickey. He was raised in Trinity Center, CA. He attended a one room schoolhouse with a total of 30 students. He later boarded in Redding, CA to attend Shasta Union High School. He also attended Shasta Junior College and received his Bachelor of Arts from Chico State College.

He was the editor of his high school, junior college and college newspaper. In 1961 he received a letter from then FBI director J. Edgar Hoover as a thank you for an editorial piece, Leas had written.

During college he became a Smoke Jumper for the US Forest Service and traveled across the Western United States. After graduating college, he joined the Air Force and became a fixed wing and helicopter pilot. Then as a captain he flew both large transports and rescue helicopters in Vietnam.

After Vietnam he served in the Forest Service in both Administrative and as a pilot working with Air Tankers and dropping Smoke Jumpers. After retiring from the Forest Service, he worked for Rogue Community College teaching English to non-English speaking people.

He liked to camp, fish, and hunt in the Trinity Alps wilderness area. Leas also loved to travel. He traveled in Asia, Australia, Europe and throughout North America, South America and Central America. He made many good friends while traveling in South and Central America.

He is survived by his mother Mary Rae Bryden, his brother Chris Dickey, his daughter and son in law, Ladelle and Matt White, his granddaughters Megan and Maddie White and many friends and other family.

There will be no formal service per Leas’ wishes. A small family gathering at the VA cemetery in Redding will be held at a later date.