I was saddened to read that Lesley passed away. 

I met Lesley at Our Lady of Sorrows in Portland. Lesley was the beautiful girl in school that all the girls were jealous of. 

She was beautiful, kind, and befriended this fat ugly, Awkward girl that came into the school. That girl was me. Lesley shopped at Nordstrom's; I shopped at Fred Meyers. She never made me feel I was below her. 

Yes, she introduced me to “Queen.” The posters of Queen and Freddie Mercury cover a wall in her room; she loved Freddie. 

One time Lesley and I went into Fred Meyers and stole “ Sally Hansen's press on nails, “ We were convinced would-be caught. When we got outside, we threw the nails away in the garbage and ran home. Lesley and I remained friends off and on Throughout our teenage years. Lesley was the first person I confided in about the abuse I was going through living with my mother.

 As time went by, she and her mother (Fran) helped me and my brother get away from the abusive home we lived in.

Fran (Lesley’s mom)  was a special lady, kind and beautiful. That apple didn't fall far from the tree. 

I ended up going to live with my father in Washington. 

Lesley came up to visit me several times. I would go and call Lesley in Oregon. 

I ended up moving back to Oregon with my mother. It was the summer between our freshman and sophomore years. Lesley told me, “don't do it” ( she told me even though she would love to have me back in Oregon, please don't move back to your mother's).  Lesley was that caring person that would tell you how she felt but would never tell you, “I told you.” 

I found my strength after living with my father and stepmom.  The ugly duckling became a swan. 

It didn't work living with my mother; I left her house when I was fifteen and moved in with my boyfriend. Of course, Lesley was there through everything. 


We lost touch through the years. I didn't see Lesley again until 1988. 

I was shopping at a mall in Oregon City with my baby boy Benjamin. Do you know that feeling that someone is watching you?  This lady was staring at me from another store across the walkway (the stores had all glass). She would glance at me and look away. Of course, I stared at her the whole time. 

I took my baby, and I was going to confront this chick.

 Yes, it was Lesley Fouche. We laughed, she said, “  I knew it was you, Tandi, only you would keep staring). 

Lesley was still beautiful and kind. 

She invited me to her sister Robin’s wedding.

Lesley would continue our friendship like time hadn't passed. 

I attended Robin’s wedding. Robin was just as beautiful and kind, loving as her Little sister Lesley.  

Lesley had me sit in front to the left of the Church. I felt so uncomfortable; it had been years since I had seen the family. I couldn't wait to get out of there. 

I felt uncomfortable because I  couldn't tell Lesley how horrible my Relationship was; I sank fast. 

Lesley never knew how people could watch her and see her strength. Her beauty wasn't just the outside. Her beauty was her whole being. 

After seeing Lesley, I got my strength back. I moved back to Washington. I found a wonderful man and have been married for 31 years. 

Lesley and I found each other when she moved to Kansas City, MO.

We had talked a couple of times. 

Throughout the years, I would look up Lesley. As I would expect, she was living her life. 

Lesley had her way of touching people, not always in words. Most of the time, it was that look; she tilted her head and smiled. Her eyes would go through you, and she knew what you needed. 

Lesley Fouche Jackson Definitely left her mark on this world.