Myra Leigh Tobin

Myra Leigh Tobin, 81, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 29, 2021 at the Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington, KY blessed with her family and chaplain by her side. Myra was born the first of four daughters of Marjorie and Wathen Tobin of Harned, KY. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thera Davis, her foster grandmother, Robert Anderson "Andy" Schrecker, her nephew and Dennis Robert Schrecker, her brother-in-law.

She is survived by three sisters, Linda Lois Tobin Schrecker of Louisville, Jonell Tobin of West Liberty and Terri Lynn Tobin Tabor and her husband George of Bowling Green, KY. Myra was greatly loved by her nieces and nephews and their children: Andy Schrecker, Amy Schrecker Hamm, her husband Chip and their children Liam, Evie and Jude; Lisa Keeton Randle, her husband Mark and their children Macy (Andrew), Sarah and Keeton; Lori Keeton, her husband Tim and their children Carolina, Autumn and Blake; Kara Clay Keeton Frederick, her husband Chad and their children Sandra, Cade and Eli; Matthew Tabor, his wife Kayleigh and their children Madeline and Jackson; and Michael Tabor, his wife Megan and their children Hudson and Hadley. Myra cherished her many cousins, extended family and numerous friends.

Myra, a native of Harned, received her bachelor's degree at the University of Kentucky in home economics in 1962, a master's degree in counseling psychology at Ohio State and a master's in business administration from New York University. Her education and Christian values gave her the foundation to be a trailblazer in the business world and a generous philanthropist.

Myra briefly worked for U. S. Rep. William Natcher and in the Kentucky Department of Commerce before moving to New York. She had previously spent time there as part of General Electric's marketing management program. She began working at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and then moved to the New York based international insurance firm Marsh and McLennan Companies, where she rose through the ranks to become senior vice president and then managing director, a position she held from 1982 until retiring in 1998. Myra was often called a "Woman of Firsts". She was the first woman with a master's in business administration hired by Marsh and McLennan, the first woman managing director of the firm and the first chair of the firm's Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry Committee.

She was recognized as Insurance Woman of the Year by the Association of Professional Insurance Women in 1984, the recipient of the Helen Garvin Outstanding Achievement Award of the National Association of Insurance Women and the Timothy J. Mahoney Lifetime Sales Leadership Award. She was a member of the Board of the National Association of Insurance Brokers for three years. She was a former president of the Financial Women's Association of New York and the International Alliance, a network of executive and professional women. 

Myra has been a leader in professional and community organizations in New York and remained connected to her Kentucky roots through her farm in Breckinridge County. Her support of UK HealthCare enabled a new chapel, the Myra Leigh Tobin Chapel, to be constructed in the new UK hospital. She has served as president of the UK Alumni Association and served for six years on the UK Board of Trustees. She served as president of the Kentuckians of New York, was a founding member of the Board of the New York Women's Foundation and served on the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church in New York City where she helped raise more than $2 million for a restoration project by serving as the fundraising chair.

Myra was inducted into the UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2000. She served 10 years on the Board of Directors of the Frazier History Museum, and was currently on the Foundation Board of the Breckinridge Memorial Hospital, the Cattleman's Association and was a founding charter member and remained actively involved in the UK Women in Philanthropy where she served a term as Co-chair. Additionally, she served on the OperaLex board in Lexington and for many years on the board of the National Chorale in New York City.

Myra's passions included her family, Kentucky, New York City, the University of Kentucky, her college sorority Delta Delta Delta, watching all sports, attending her beloved UK basketball and football games, making friends and attending her never ending meetings.

Myra was always striving for excellence and pursuing a quality education. She mentored children in New York and taught our children the value of continued learning and doing your best. She was a trailblazer for women and an excellent role model.

Many thanks to the loving caregivers, her numerous special friends, her church families at the Harned United Methodist Church, the First Presbyterian Church in New York City and her undying love for her University of Kentucky family. Our family was truly blessed to have a sister, friend and Aunt like Myra, who is loved and will be forever missed.

Visitation to the "Celebration of Life Service" will be at the Harned United Methodist Church from 3 to 7 PM on May 4, 2021 and from 10 AM - 12:30 PM on May 5, 2021 central time. The Celebration Service of Myra's life will be at 12:30 PM  central time on May 5, 2021 at the church. Burial will follow in the Cap Anderson Cemetery in Brandenburg, KY under the direction of Trent-Dowell Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to honor and celebrate Myra's life be made to one of the following favorite organizations she loved: The University of Kentucky and directed to the Myra Tobin Scholarship Fund in the UK Alumni Association, UK Philanthropy P. O. Box 23552 Lexington, KY 40523; the National Chorale of New York 1650 Broadway New York, NY 10019; or the Harned United Methodist Church 97 South Highway 259 Harned, KY 40144.

The Celebration of Life Service will be live-streamed on youtu.be Ms. Myra Leigh Tobin Funeral Service.

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