LEIGH PARKHILL DAVIDSON
On the 29th day of August 1956, in Albany, NY, Leigh Parkhill opened her beautiful big brown eyes for the first time and began seeing the beauty in the world. Perhaps it was with the influence of her parents, Mary Gallup Parkhill and Edwin Clinton Parkhill, or maybe God knew that we needed a little brightness in the world. From the very beginning, Leigh looked for the finer, beautiful things in life; whether it be learning about botany in the garden with her father, or cooking superb dishes in the kitchen with her mother. She saw the beauty in ordinary things and shared that with others. From a young age, she enjoyed her time with her cousins on the sunny sea shores of Cape Cod.
She carried her love of the ocean, throughout her life. During her time in the Norwich Schools, she spent most of her free time outdoors; swimming, biking, or just walking. After high school, she took her love of beautiful things and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology where she graduated as an interior designer.
Leigh found the original beauty in homes, hotels, and businesses and accentuated it with her original designs. Everyone who came to meet her through her creative designs were always surprised at how well her work represented them and their unique style; such a rare quality in designers these days. After returning from New York to start her own design business in Oxford, she met the love of her life and soulmate one fate filled night as she was locking up after a village planning board meeting. On the 15th day of August 1992, she married Richard E. Davidson in a little church in Gilbertsville, NY. She went on to have her daughter, Kelsey Ayn Davidson, whom she loved dearly, on March 3rd, 1994.
Leigh devoted her adult life to making sure life was nothing short of magical for her loved ones. When she began facing the challenges of Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA), Leigh became determined to fight the disease with grace, dignity, and strength. She may have been in insurmountable amounts of pain, but you would never know with her contagious smile and never ending sense of humor.
Sadly, Leigh lost her battle with MSA, on March 2nd, 2017 surrounded by the loving arms of her beloved husband and cherished daughter. Until the very end, she lived by the mantra “be brave.” She wanted those she left to continue being brave for her. As she said so eloquently, “you will hear me in the seashells.” She will spend eternity at the beautiful sunny sea shores. We will hear her in the seashells, and feel her warm embrace in the ocean breeze.
Calling hours will be held at the Behe Funeral Home in Oxford, NY on Friday, March 10th, 2017 from 5:00 PM- 8:00 PM. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 11th, 2017 at 1:00 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 34 Main Street, Oxford, NY with the Very Reverend David Hanselman and the Very Reverend John L. Scott III officiating. Friends and family may share their condolences and memories by visiting www.behefuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Mercy House of the Southern Tier (http://www.mercyhousesoutherntier.com) where she spent her final days; or the MSA Coalition (https://www.multiplesystematrophy.org), which works to defeat the horrible disease of Multiple Systems Atrophy.