James Cody Leech
James Cody Leech, 51, of Albany, Texas, passed away Saturday, September 26, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, October 1st at Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary. A visitation reception will be held at the Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church fellowship hall, immediately following the burial.
Cody was born January 7, 1975, in San Angelo, Texas, to James Glenn and Donna Sue Woolaver Leech. His family later settled in Albany, where Cody grew up carrying on the traditions that had shaped generations of his family before him. He played football, showed livestock through 4-H and FFA, and spent countless hours working on the ranch alongside his father and grandfather.
Cody graduated from Albany High School in 1993 and went on to attend Texas Tech University. While at Texas Tech, he was a member of the 1996 National Champion Meats Judging Team and a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He maintained a close relationship with these teammates and friends for the rest of his life. While at Texas Tech, he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Agricultural Education. He is a die-hard Red Raider and could not have been more proud of both of his children that went on to attend Texas Tech as well.
After college, Cody followed in his dad’s footsteps and became an ag teacher, first in Seagraves and later in Seymour. Both communities and their people continued to hold a special place in his heart the rest of his life and became some of his closest friends.
While at Texas Tech, Cody met his wife, Kalico Karr, and the two were married on December 14, 2002. Cody went to work as an appraiser, they moved back to his hometown of Albany, and together they built a life and family centered around their children, Leddie and Laithe.
Cody remained deeply involved in the Albany community throughout his life. He was a lifelong member of Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deacon. He was a longtime member of the Shackelford County Youth Livestock Association, served on the board of the Fort Griffin Fandangle Association, and was the Wagon Master for the show.
Cody loved stock showing with his kids and friends that became family. Some of his favorite memories were made with his stock show travel partners and the restaurants at which they are no longer welcome. He loved a good party. He was always the first to arrive and last to leave, much to his wife’s dismay. He collected friends everywhere he went and had never met a stranger.
Cody was preceded in death by his grandparents, Grace and Glenn Leech, Marie and Jay Woolaver; his uncle, Randal Woolaver; and aunt, Doris Cooper.
He is survived by his wife, Kalico Leech; his children, Leddie and Laithe Leech; his parents, Jim and Donna Leech of Albany; his sister, Kimberly, her husband, Justin, and their children Jeithin and Jeis Odom of Cisco; his aunt, Nancy Birdwell of Albany; his aunt, Sandra Adling and Ken Guernsey of Levelland; and cousins, Megaen Birdwell of Albany, Lucy and Fowler Carter of Houston, Joe and Lisa Cooper of DeLeon, Jimmy and Nancy Cooper of Cisco, Amy and Alex Aliakseyenka of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Jennifer Adling and Eric Fisher of Lubbock, and Dustin Adling of Lubbock, all of whom felt more like brothers and sisters.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shackelford County Youth Livestock Association, PO Box 2439, Albany, Texas 76430, and may be left at Morehart Mortuary.
