Joan Edith Leland

Joan Edith Leland, 90, born on August 27, 1930, in Los Angeles, CA, passed away July 30, 2021. She resided in San Dimas, CA at the time of her passing. Joan was married to Everett C. "Lee" Leland (d.1998) for 44 years and leaves two children, Kimberly McCoy and husband Pat of LaVerne, and Curtis Leland and wife Karen of San Marcos; granddaughter Krystina Villasenor and husband Kenny; grandson Kevin McCoy and soon-to-be wife Aschley Yano; and grandsons Julian, Matthew, and Nathaniel Leland. She was preceded in death by brother William and sister Maree, and has two remaining sisters, Helen and Betty Jean.

Born as a 6th generation Californian, she was always proud of that fact and enjoyed telling all that her grandchildren were the 8th generation. In her teenage years, she followed the famed Shirley Temple and Judy Garland to be a dancing member of the "Meglin Kiddies": a well-known troupe of acting, music and dance performers, consisting of children up to the age of 16. She performed on television at the Mt. Lee broadcast facility overlooking the Hollywood sign in the late 1940's. Later in life she returned to her love of dancing, supported by her husband Lee who was her biggest fan. She was a founding member of "The Top Hat Dancers", produced and choreographed by friend Julie Andrews - entertaining the Coachella Valley at concerts and events. She danced at the McCallan Theater's annual "Follies" production for many years and was featured on numerous news reels on local television stations.

While raising her children, she was involved in the PTA, the band boosters, and was a licensed real estate agent. As a realtor, investing in income properties gave her a nice retirement with freedom to travel the world. She toured many countries including China, Australia, and Europe, and even traveled on one of the QE2's initial voyages in the US. Joan had many friends and fans in her lifetime and spent quality time in her later years with friends Don and Marguerite - dancing on Friday nights at the local Elk's Club after a martini or two. She was very independent and was her friends' "designated driver", still making the long trek to visit her grandchildren from her home in the desert well into her 80's.

She loved: the color orange, martinis, costumes, shoes, traveling, feather boas, small dogs, sequins, crossword puzzles, lamb chops with mint jelly, all soups - especially tomato, and smoking cigarettes until she quit at age 60.

Joan had sparkle and everyone noticed when she entered a room!

Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, California.