Leilani (Hovden) DeMuth of Johns Island, S.C., passed away on April 21, 2020, with her daughter and loving caregivers at her side. Memorial services will be held when the current health care crisis subsides.
Leilani, daughter of Lawrence Hovden and Evelyn (Benda) Hovden ‘69, was born on May 7, 1939, in Iowa. She did her undergraduate studies at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and she obtained her Masters of Science from University of Illinois, Chicago. She taught graduate level biology and anatomy.
It was when she met her second husband Harry Clay DeMuth that she moved to Seabrook Island, S.C. After Harry passed away 27 years ago, she became even more involved in various academic and nonprofit groups. Her love for knowledge, art, classical music, opera, and education led her down many paths. Leilani spent countless hours volunteering with the Drayton Hall Preservation Department discovering the treasures of its history. She was an integral part of the Century Club and thrived when she had to throw herself into research for her annual lecture. She supported the arts at the College of Charleston as chair of the Friends of the School of the Arts committee, worked on the Board of Roper Hospital, supported the Friends of the Charleston County Library, was a board member of the Ladies Benevolent Society, and many other organizations.
Leilani was predeceased by her second husband, Harry C. DeMuth, and her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Emily Bradley, her husband Pete, grandson John, and granddaughter Allison; Her baby brother Kevin Hovden, his wife Julie, and their children; Her brother Gary Hovden, his wife Judy, and their children and grandchildren; Christopher Demuth, his wife Susan, their children and grandchildren; Stephanie Alnot, her children and grandchildren; Philip DeMuth, his wife Julia and their children.
Donations in her memory may be made to: Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, 3380 Ashley River Rd., Charleston, SC 29414-7105. For more information or to make a gift online, please visit http://www.draytonhall.org/give/#give Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, College of Charleston, 161 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401. For more information or to make a gift online, please visit https://friendsof.cofc.edu/halsey/donate Roper St. Francis Hospice, Roper St. Francis Foundation, 125 Doughty Street, Suite 790, Charleston, SC 29403 or to make a gift online, please visit https://www.rsfhfoundation.org/honor. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ Charleston.