Livia Lee Leigh

COZUMEL, Mexico – Livia Lee Leigh was born the youngest of five children on Feb. 11, 1943 in Portland, to Lillian May Ustic and James Paul Ustic.She attended schools in Redbank, Gray, and Portland. Her family moved to Waterville at the end of her sophomore year, and she graduated from Waterville High School in 1961.Livia loved to sing and dance. She made her singing debut during her senior year “class night.” She sang “I Only Have Eyes For You” by the Flamingos. Some of her fondest memories are dancing with her brother, Tyrone, when they were teens. She moved to Portland after graduation and worked as an administrative assistant at Pierce, Atwood and Scribner, Sanders Associates, and First American Title.In 1964, she married her high school sweetheart, Gary McClay, and they moved to Cape Elizabeth where they resided for 30 years. In 1974 they gave birth to their only child, Christina “Chris”. Livia was a fun and doting stay-at-home mom. Everyone, including Chris’ friends and fellow school moms, recognized her instant warmth. She always made time for the people most important to her and gave them the rare gift of undivided attention and love.Over the years, she took up numerous hobbies: organ playing, acrylic painting, macrame, doll cakes, flight lessons – even flying solo – and of course, singing.Livia was also beloved for her cooking skills, which she acquired at a young age from her mother and grandmother. Pies became her specialty.Throughout her 60s, she worked at the Cape Elizabeth Home in South Portland as a cook and caregiver. The residents loved her, and she went above and beyond getting to know them personally.During this time, she started singing at nursing homes in the area. Before long, she had regular weekly and monthly singing gigs at many of the local homes. Her self-proclaimed lifelong “love of old people” along with her captivating stage presence made her a hit.Livia’s zest for life continued into later years. She was frequently found ballroom dancing, line dancing, or dancing and singing at various nightspots around town. Chris would frequently tag along with her mother and the two became great companions.They became roommates in late 2019, after Livia was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. 18 months after joining an experimental program, Livia’s condition was greatly improved and the two were ready to take up a new pastime together: travel.They traveled all over the country and in mid-May 2021, they landed in Playa Del Carmen for what was to be a month-long stay.Livia died unexpectedly in Cozumel, Mexico on June 8, 2021 from a surgical accident during a routine procedure. Livia is predeceased by her mother, Lillian and father, James, stepfather, Allen F. Judkins; grandmother, Inez C. Sawyer; brother, Tyrone T. Ustic; nephew, Edward Ustic; sister, Marlene D. MacConnell, and brother, Paul M. Ustic.She will be missed by her precious relatives including sister, Sonya Ustic of Portland; nephew, Robert MacConnell of Puyallup, Wash., niece, Diana Panetti of Limington, nephew, Paul MacConnell of Standish, nephew, Sean Ustic of Lakeland, Fla., nephew, Timothy Ustic of Chandler, Ariz.; and several grandnieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on June 4 in Portland. Please send correspondence to: Chris at [email protected]. **Please enjoy this short film memorializing Livia’s incredible turnaround: https://youtu.be/EvN9kY7VtE4