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Leigh Ann was born in Mesa, AZ on February 5th 1975. She attended Aguilar Elementary School, Marcos De Niza High School (1993), ASU, B.S. Nursing (1998). Leigh Ann was played on the softball team and was a cheerleader in high school. She was also voted Prom Queen her senior year. She acted and sang in many of the school plays and dramas. Her most notable role was playing the part of Sandy in the play Grease her senior year. Leigh Ann worked as a part-time bank teller at Wells Fargo. She was a waitress at Black Angus Steak House during her college years and she worked at McDonalds during her summer mission’s trip to Daytona Beach. After her college graduation from ASU and up until her passing, Leigh Ann held only one position and that was caring for others as a nurse and nursing supervisor at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In a day and age where jobs come and go, Leigh Ann was fortunate enough to be in an environment in which she loved, working with sick children. Leigh Ann excelled at her job and was rewarded countless times working with and alongside PCH nurses, doctors, support staff, and administration. She experienced incredible joy and satisfaction through the efforts with the many patients she had taken care of. Leigh Ann also was involved with the Nursing Practice Council and had several leadership opportunities during this time including: Spearheading the 3rd Floor UBC (Unit Based Council) which began in September, 2007. One of her proudest moments came in 2008 when Leigh Ann was nomitated as Nurse Of The Year.
Leigh Ann was married to Greg Tonkinson on May 6, 1996. Greg and Leigh Ann have three children. Caden who is 10, Bailey who is 6, and Mailia who is 4. The boys’ names were picked with a fair amount of ease. Malia’s name came about when Greg and Leigh Ann were vacationing with friends in Hawaii. A waitress who served them one night was named Malia. Leigh Ann was five months pregnant at the time and she and Greg told the waitress that they liked the name so much that if they had a baby girl they would name her Malia. Four months later, Malia Kate Tonkinson was born. Though Leigh Ann throurougly enjoyed her work at the hospital, her most prized occupation was being a mother. Leigh Ann loved her kids with a passion that evident from the moment that Caden was born. She never stopped thinking of them and the ways she could improve their well being.
Leigh Ann was so proud of all their accomplishments and she has the pictures, card, drawings and videos to prove it. Leigh Ann loved to vacation with her kids taking trips to Kansas, Disneyland, trips to the McDonald’s Cabin and summer family camping trips. While her favorite vacation with Greg was Hawaii, she would say the best times were spent when the entire family could be together. Leigh Ann didn’t need formal vacation plans to make her happy. A simple day at the pool with Greg and the kids was just as memorable (and cheaper per Leigh Ann!) than a formal vacation.
Leigh Ann had a deep love for Jesus Christ. She grew up attending Emmanuel Lutheran Church with her family and became grounded in her faith. She and Greg have attended several different churches over the years including Canyon Ridge Community Church, First Baptist Tempe, Cornerstone Church and currently The Grove Bible Church. In 1999, Leigh Ann helped Greg launch Canyon Ridge Community Church where she served as the Senior Pastor’s Wife amoung countelss other duties. Through the years, while Greg experienced highs and lows in minstry, Leigh Ann’s faith always remained constant. She was Greg’s biggest fan, comforting him when things got tough and the first one to celebrate with him when blessings came. Leigh Ann was involved with many women’s Bible studies which she dearly loved. She befriended many of the women who attended these studies with her. Leigh Ann and Greg were involved in many different care groups of which she deeply enjoyed each experience. Greg and Leigh Ann would have many deep discussions about God, sharpening each other as iron sharpens iron. More than anything, Leigh Ann would want people to know that her ability to love others came directly from the love that Jesus Christ showed her.
Leigh Ann was married to Greg Tonkinson on May 6, 1996. Greg and Leigh Ann have three children. Caden who is 10, Bailey who is 6, and Mailia who is 4. The boys’ names were picked with a fair amount of ease. Malia’s name came about when Greg and Leigh Ann were vacationing with friends in Hawaii. A waitress who served them one night was named Malia. Leigh Ann was five months pregnant at the time and she and Greg told the waitress that they liked the name so much that if they had a baby girl they would name her Malia. Four months later, Malia Kate Tonkinson was born. Though Leigh Ann throurougly enjoyed her work at the hospital, her most prized occupation was being a mother. Leigh Ann loved her kids with a passion that evident from the moment that Caden was born. She never stopped thinking of them and the ways she could improve their well being.
Leigh Ann was so proud of all their accomplishments and she has the pictures, card, drawings and videos to prove it. Leigh Ann loved to vacation with her kids taking trips to Kansas, Disneyland, trips to the McDonald’s Cabin and summer family camping trips. While her favorite vacation with Greg was Hawaii, she would say the best times were spent when the entire family could be together. Leigh Ann didn’t need formal vacation plans to make her happy. A simple day at the pool with Greg and the kids was just as memorable (and cheaper per Leigh Ann!) than a formal vacation.
Leigh Ann had a deep love for Jesus Christ. She grew up attending Emmanuel Lutheran Church with her family and became grounded in her faith. She and Greg have attended several different churches over the years including Canyon Ridge Community Church, First Baptist Tempe, Cornerstone Church and currently The Grove Bible Church. In 1999, Leigh Ann helped Greg launch Canyon Ridge Community Church where she served as the Senior Pastor’s Wife amoung countelss other duties. Through the years, while Greg experienced highs and lows in minstry, Leigh Ann’s faith always remained constant. She was Greg’s biggest fan, comforting him when things got tough and the first one to celebrate with him when blessings came. Leigh Ann was involved with many women’s Bible studies which she dearly loved. She befriended many of the women who attended these studies with her. Leigh Ann and Greg were involved in many different care groups of which she deeply enjoyed each experience. Greg and Leigh Ann would have many deep discussions about God, sharpening each other as iron sharpens iron. More than anything, Leigh Ann would want people to know that her ability to love others came directly from the love that Jesus Christ showed her.