James Dunwoody Leiby

    James Dunwoody Leiby of Cameron, North Carolina, passed away at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst, North Carolina on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

    Jim was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on August 5, 1947, the son of Charles “Bing” Leiby and Chelsa (Steitler) Leiby. He grew up in Pennsylvania but gravitated to North Carolina in the early 1970s  and earned his Bachelor’s degree at UNC Charlotte in 1976. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in economics at NC State Raleigh in 1986; while there, he was awarded a certificate for outstanding teaching as a graduate student.

    Among other achievements as a tenured professor of economics and statistics at the University of Maine, Jim co-authored a book on cranberry cultivation and developed an equine business economics program. A lifelong choral music enthusiast with a fine bass voice, he  sang with the university’s Oratorio Society and was a regular member of  church choirs. He was also an avid fly-fisherman and loved outings in the Maine woods. But  he always thought of returning to North Carolina.

    This he did following his retirement from the University of Maine in December 2013. He  and his wife, Sandra (Cooke) Leiby, moved to Cameron in 2014. Here, Jim participated in town government until health issues intervened. He was until December 2022 a member of the choir of Cameron Presbyterian Church, where he also served as an elder.

Jim is survived by his wife, Sandra (Cooke) Leiby , and his sister Mary Beth Leiby.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Cameron Presbyterian Church. 

Please make any donations in lieu of flowers to Cameron Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 68, Cameron, NC 28326.

Online condolences may be made at PinesFunerals.com.