Sheila A. Leik, 71

      Bainbridge Island resident Sheila A Leik died Oct. 13. She was 71.

      Born Sheila Selfors on Aug. 8, 1940, she won the Washington State debate championship at Bainbridge High School. She earned bachelor and masters degree in sociology at the University of Washington.

      Her varied career included working for the state’s Department of Public Assistance and as the principal investigator and/or coordinator for many research projects, including: commuter consequences of the sinking of the Hood Canal Bridge; chronic family stress for people living near Mount St. Helens when it erupted; and access to health care for residents of Norway, Sweden and Finland.

      Once retired and back on Bainbridge, she enjoyed ballroom dancing, travel, helping organizing high school reunions, decorating for Senior Center events and writing hilarious Christmas letters.

      She is survived by Robert K. Leik, her husband for 41 years.