Mrs. Leslie Dies; Gave Land To City

A memorial service for Mrs. Eugene H. (Emily) Leslie, 86, who died Friday, will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Northside Community Church, 929 Barton Dr.
The Rev. Donald Yost will officiate at the service for Mrs. Leslie, who along with her husband, donated 221 acres of land to the city for recreational use.
Mrs. Leslie died at her home at 1831 Traver Rd. following a long illness.
The Atchinson, Kan., native graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor of science degree in 1912. She had lived in Ann Arbor since 1919.
Mrs. Leslie was a member of the Women's Faculty Club from 1919 to 1929 when her husband was a professor of chemical engineering at the U-M. She was also a member of the Ann Arbor Garden Club for many years, serving as president from 1956 to 1958. Mrs. Leslie was a member of the National Farm and Garden Association.
In 1963, Dr. and Mrs. Leslie gave to the City of Ann Arbor 207 acres of land, which has since been divided into the 150-acre Leslie Golf Course off Traver Road, adjacent to Huron Parkway; the 26-acre Leslie Park which is now being developed by the city and is expected to open in 1977, and the 32-acre Leslie Woods.
In 1969, the Leslies deeded to the City their home and 14-acre site on which it is located, reserving the right to live there until their deaths. No definite plans have been made for the property, but Kenneth Harris, manager of field services for the City's Parks and Recreation Department, said the land will be used for public recreation.
The Leslie gifts rank with the Elizabeth Dean gift as the most generous ever received by the City of Ann Arbor, Harris said.
"The land will be used by many future generations. The city is grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Leslie," Harris added.
Mrs. Leslie is survived by her husband, retired engineer and inventor; a brother, Emil Ebner of Sarasota, Fla., and four nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place.
Memorial contributions in the name of Mrs. Leslie may be sent to Mrs. James F. Zeisler, 623 Duane Ct., chairwoman of the Ann Arbor Garden Club Horticultural Therapy Group.