Leslie Ann Just
Leslie Just, beloved daughter, sister, mother and grandmother, died at the age of 56 on March 8, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona, after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Leslie was born in Altus, OK, in 1967 to Lynn Rex Barker and Lynn Christine (Listoe) Barker. The second of three daughters, she was an easy-going child and the apple of her older sister’s eye. She was joined by a younger sister the following summer.
As a toddler, Leslie played happily for hours with her plastic farm animals and Fisher Price Little People. When she was older, her affinity for math and numbers led her to enjoy playing with stacks of cancelled checks, sorting them in multiple ways- by dollar value, by date, and so on. Her later life as an accountant was no surprise.
Leslie was an exceptionally bright student, who teachers enjoyed having in their classes. She was also a gifted pianist, a keen horsewoman and loved taking tests and doing quizzes, as well as making jewelry and baking cookies. She had a group of friends with whom she did trivia on an almost weekly basis and was active with an online gaming group. She loved travel and enjoyed childhood trips in the United States, Canada, and Europe, which created many cherished family memories. Her quick wit and lively sense of humor made her a valued friend, classmate, and colleague to many.
After graduating from Moore High School in 1985, Leslie attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in International Business and minoring in French. She also spent many hours in the Student Union playing bridge. After moving to Tucson, Arizona, in 1998, she completed her education with a BSBA degree in accounting & finance and went on to be a partner in an accounting firm, Finance Accounting and Tax Associates.
Leslie married Thomas Just (d) in Moore, Oklahoma, in December of 1992, and they soon started a family. Daughter Connor (29), son Aubrey (26), and daughter Gillian (16). She was a loving mother to them and shared her generosity of spirit and love of laughter with them. Leslie was also grandmother to AzMarie Nunez, Dominic Nunez (d) and Juniper Just.
Leslie always saw the best in everyone she met and was a champion for the underdog. She was also a lover of cats, particularly black cats. Her loving and bright spirit will be forever missed by everyone whose life she touched. She is survived by her parents, Lynn and Rex Barker, her sisters, Gwen Boland (Sam) and Joan Adams (Ian), her children, Connor Nunez (Albert), Aubrey Just (Indigo) and Gillian Just and her grandchildren, AzMarie Nunez and Juniper Just.