Wood, Sadie LeshyOct. 4, 2009Sadie Leshy Wood went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Oct. 4, 2009, preceded in death by her beloved son, John Richard.Sadie was born of humble means to proud diligent Middle Eastern parents, Mary and Joseph Aboud Leshy who immigrated to this country through Mexico. She grew up in the rich river valley of Ohio, where she spent her young girlhood.She graduated from Bridgeport High School as valedictorian and joined the army as an army air corps nurse, where she achieved the rank of first lieutenant.It was after World War II that she was assigned private duty care to her future husband, John, a POW of the Japanese. They married and she took her degree in history and English, graduating from Stetson University Summa Cum Laude on the GI bill.They both came to Sarasota in 1951 and it was where Sadie began her long career as aMother, master flower show judge, docent at the Ringling museum, garden club member and secretary of the Wilson-Wood Foundation.Sadie had an unquenchable curiosity for knowledge and she spent her leisure time reading books on art, literature, music, science and gardening, reciting in Latin the botanical names of plants and flowers. She made the yards of her life an exquisite and beautiful place to be. It was through her love of nature that the birds often came as walkway-wanderers and the butterflies made wing-marks on all her days.The landscape was her canvas, her hands, brushes, and she painted the earth with petals for over 50 years. She was known by so many as a loving, kind and generous woman possessed with qualities of strength, honesty and forgiveness.She understood that life was in constant flux and she applied that to her own life through the growing of flowers, the digging of soil, the amending of minerals and sewing seedlings for the next generation. She had an immense faith and walked the Christian walk.Sadie was loved and respected and will be missed by those who knew her.She leaves behind a global family: relatives in Beirut, Lebanon; many cousins; a brother, Albert; two daughters, Ann and Susan Wood Faessler; her dedicated son-in-law, Tom Faessler; her devoted husband of 63 years, John; three grandchildren, Shayne, John L. and Kasey; and one great-grandchild.She often recited the famous Persian poet, Omar Khayyam, and to honor her love of words, and life's truths, "with them the seed of Wisdom did I sow, and mine own hand wrought to make it grow; And this was all the harvest that I reaped -- I came like water and like the wind I go."In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to TideWell Hospice of Sarasota and Sarasota Garden Club. A private memorial service will be for immediate family only. Arrangements are by Toale Brothers Funeral Home.