Leighton, Phyllis H

BAR HARBOR

Phyllis Hamor Leighton, 61, died after a long battle with multiple chronic illnesses on October 4, 2023, at MDI Hospital. She was born May 15, 1962, in Bar Harbor, the daughter of Charles E. and Donna L. (Fletcher) Hamor.

Phyllis graduated from MDI High School, class of 1980. Following graduation, Phyllis decided to attend Thomas College in Waterville, ME to earn her Associates degree in accounting. After graduating from college, Phyllis returned to Bar Harbor and worked at Bar Harbor Banking & Trust. During this time, she met and started dating Michael “Woody” Leighton when he worked for her parents at Parkacadia at the head of the island. They got married on April 23, 1983, 23 days before her birthday and 23 days after his birthday. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this year. Phyllis and Woody had gone on to have two children and suffered through years of being in and out of the hospital with their daughter, Katie (who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis). Since that day, Phyllis was a fierce advocate for Katie and her son, Kasey and became the chairman of the Bar Harbor Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis Walk-a-Thon. She put on many of these events as well as other fundraising events to raise money for CF. Phyllis was forever volunteering for the CF Foundation, her children’s schools(s), the YWCA, the YMCA, Girl Scouts as well as fundraising chair on the PTA at Conners Emerson School. She later went on to become the Treasurer for the MDI High School Music Boosters when Kasey and Katie were in high school. She was always involved in whatever activities her children did. She also ran an in-home childcare center for over 20 years with her mother.

Phyllis is survived by her devoted husband, Michael (Woody) Leighton; daughter Katie (Leighton) Ceranic and husband Theron of Bar Harbor, son Kasey Leighton of Bar Harbor; brother-in law David Leighton and wife Patty of Ellsworth; aunt Helen (Hamor) Paul; loving cousins Barbara (Keene) Hamblen, Roger (Buzzy) Keene, Laura (Paul) Henderson, and Michael (Pickle) Keene; her closest friends Elizabeth (Alley) Robinson and Beth Jewel; children from other mothers Noelle (Gilley) Williams, Megan (Shaffer) Wernert and Kyle Greaves; and nieces, nephews and many cousins and close friends. Phyllis was predeceased by her mother Donna (Fletcher) Hamor, her father Charles E. Hamor, her brother Charles (Chuck) Hamor, and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A service of remembrance will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove, ME. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Condolences may be expressed  www.acadiacremation.com