Mary Leishman laid to rest

Hundreds of mourners turned out at Cleish Parish Church on Tuesday for the funeral of Mary Leishman and to remember all that Mary was for Jim, son Jamie, daughter Kate and husband Gordon.

Hundreds of mourners turned out at Cleish Parish Church on Tuesday for the funeral of Mary Leishman and to remember all that Mary was for Jim, son Jamie, daughter Kate and husband Gordon. In addition to the church the adjacent village hall accommodated all those who came and an audio link allowed everyone to hear the service conducted by ministers Joanne Finlay and Scott Burton and from son in law Gordon Smart.

Rev Scott Burton described how those present might remember Mary in Kelty Musicals as Nancy in Oliver, as Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun, as Charity in Sweet Charity, and her very favourite as Calamity Jane in the musical of that same name. "Many of you know Mary as the talented singer who performed in more musicals than I have time to mention.

"She could have made it further than the Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline had it not been for a greater love than she had for the musicals, that was her family. She sacrificed her stage career for the deep, deep love she had for Jim with all his footballing achievements and Kate and Jamie for all their needs and their desires."

Mary was brought up in Kelty daughter of Jock and Lena Smith. She married Jim Leishman on 24th February 1979. Rev Burton said how it still got to him, like everyone present that how it was on 24th February 2009 that Jim lost his wife of 30 years.

"This terrible loss that we have all suffered today has taken away the opportunity of all of us simply to say congratulations." There was applause when the minister asked everyone to congratulate Jim for 30 years of marriage.

"When Mary was younger she was known as John Smith's daughter and when she got older she was known as Jim Leishman's wife. Mary was never allowed to be her own person yet we all know that she was a very talented woman in her own right. She made her own name for herself with the talent that she undoubtedly had.

"She loved the big stage but Mary also liked to sing at smaller events too, raising thousands of pounds over the years for charity as she sang at things like the Womens Guild, the Ladies Circle, the Salvation Army concerts.

"When I was visiting in Keltybridge just last week, the cards of condolence literally covered the coffee table in a pile that was so high that it revealed the love that Mary had poured into the world. These messages of support came from the checkout ladies in ASDA and from Prime Minister Gordon Brown. These messages of condolence came from Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the biggest names in world football to anonymous cards from people in this area who never actually knew Mary but saw her perform.

"Those wishes came flooding in because Mary Leishman was a special, special person who made such a significant impact on everyone she met. She had her own hairdressers, Headliners in Cowdenbeath giving that all up for the job that she counted as even more important, the job of motherhood."

The minister painted a picture of just what a wonderful person Mary was both on stage and off.

"Mary was so proud going down to Buckingham Palace for Jim's presentation then enjoying time in the city where Kate and Gordon are working so hard.  I could go on all day, you could go on all day adding many other stories. We all pay tribute to Mary in so many positive ways."

A tribute, put together by Duncan Simpson, showing images of Mary throughout her lifetime was then shown to both the Parish Church and Village Hall congregations. Rev Burton asked everyone to remember Mary Leishman in your own way before Mary's son in law expressed the thanks of the family.

Gordon Smart: "There are so many people for us to thank that it is difficult to know where to start. It has been deeply touching to see how you have all rallied around for the family in the last few months and especially the last few weeks that we have just gone through there. To everyone who sent cards, flowers, food we would just like to say thanks for that. Jim would like a special mention for the person who sent a salad!

"I'd like to express a big thank you to Dunfermline Athletic, Gavin Masterton, John Yorkston and the board of directors who have been incredibly understanding. The time they have given Jim off to deal with Mary's illness has been really really helpful. It has been a real weight off everybody's shoulders giving Jim the time to be with Mary and the family.

"The staff and supporters at the club have been fantastic and brilliant. Mary would have been very touched by the incredible messages that have been left."

Dunfermline Athletic was fully represented at the funeral with Chairman, Directors, former Directors, Manager and senior players in attendance. There were too many other former players and previous coaching staff to name but Craig Brown, Craig Levein, Paul Hegarty, Davie Irons, Ross Jack, John Robertson, Davie Hay and Stephen Kenny made the trip to Cleish to pay their respects.

Everyone at Dunfermline Athletic shares Jim and his families' sorrow.

04/03/09: Thanks from the Leishman Family

MARY LEISHMAN - A TRIBUTE

How do you define a woman?How do you measure a life?
How do you summarise Mary: a mother, a daughter, a wife?
Born to be a performer, to parents Lena and John,
Her home was filled with happiness;her heart was filled with song.

A member of Kelty Musical from a very early age,
It was obvious that Mary would soon take centre stage.
From the shadows of 42^nd Street to The Black Hill of Dakota,
With Mary as the star, the audience always got more than their quota!

Of sequins and of stardust, of laughter and of song,
Whether she was Calamity or Miss Mona, the crowds still came along.
On stage she had lovers like Lindsay, Ian, John, Craig and Gary
But in real life for Mary, there was only one man she would marry.

Jim Leishman's been her leading man for exactly 30 years,
Bringing up Kate and Jamie, sharing their laughter and tears.
Cheering Jim from the sidelines, she was the original Footballer's Wife,
Making a home for her family, sharing their trouble and strife.

"Musicals are magic," her dad would always say,
But life's not a Hollywood Musical, there's no happy ending today.
If Hollywood has a heaven, Mary's there with her mum and her dad,
She's off up that Stairway to Paradise , leaving us lonely and sad.

Thank God for the talent she gave us, the videos and DVD's galore,
Remember with gladness her Memories, as she finally walks out through life's door.
She's dancing now Over the Rainbow, she's taken her last curtain call,
She's off beyond the spotlight, but she's not really left at all.

We don't need a machine to see Mary.We don't need to press "rewind" or "start",
For the Mary we'll always remember is right here inside all our hearts.
In death, as in life we adore her, so please take a moment to pause,
Pray that she's finally at peace now, as we give Mary her final applause.

Kerry Black - 25^th February 2009
(In the words of Miss Mona, "It's been a business doin' pleasure with ya!")