Caribeth Legats
Caribeth W. Legats, 83, of Zanesville, passed away peacefully with her daughter-in-law by her side, at 10:00 PM, Friday, June 5, 2026, at Genesis Morrison House Hospice. She was born March 3, 1943, in Akron, the daughter of Philip S. Wallace and Gertrude H. (Forbs) Wallace. She married the late Kenneth J. Legats on July 22, 1967.
Caribeth attended the Akron Public Schools and graduated from Akron Buchtel High School in 1961. She graduated from the University of Akron with a B.S. in Education, and completed her Master’s in Education at Marygrove College, Detroit, Michigan in 1997.
Caribeth dedicated her life to teaching. First teaching Health and Physical Education at Cuyahoga Falls High School, and then at The University of Akron before moving to Zanesville in 1969. She retired in 2005, after teaching Primary Age Severe Behavior Handicapped students for over 24 years for Zanesville City Schools.
Caribeth was a 45-year member of Muskingum Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, where she served as the Chapter Regent for five years. She was a member, and Corresponding Secretary for Delta Kappa Gamma, Women Teachers Society, and a member of Zanesville Daybreak Rotary Club, where she served as Fellowship Committee Chairman and Miracle League Committee Chairman.
Caribeth’s true passion was her community service to our area. Beginning in the early 70’s, she was active in the formation of and served as the first president of the Muskingum County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities.
In 2007, she was appointed by Muskingum County Probate Court as a board member with the Muskingum County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, (Starlight Programs), where she served as the Levy Chairman in 2006 & 2007. She continued to serve as Board Member of the Starlight Board for 12 years, the last 5 were as Board President.
A member of Christ Table Board since 2007, serving two years as Board President. She was a member of the 111-year-old Zanesville Day Nursery Board, serving as Board President for 6 years.
In 2015, She was appointed as a Board Member of the Foxfire Alternative School Program, also serving as board president. She was an active member of First Christian Church, where she served as Elder, Board Member, and twice went to Slidell, Louisianna as part of the Church Outreach & Mission Work. In her spare time Caribeth also worked as a greeter and was a part of the Hillis Combs Funeral Home family.
However, her proudest accomplishment was serving as Project Chairman, and Board President for the Muskingum Valley Miracle League, a Daybreak Rotary Club Project, which constructed a specialized baseball field and conducted a program for handicapped children and adults unable to participate in a regulation baseball program. The over half million-dollar project began play on June 13, 2009.
Caribeth is survived by two sons, Mark Legats and Mike (Jenny) Legats; three grandchildren, Levi (Rachel) Brown, Garrett (Allysa) Brown, and Wyatt (Rileigh) Brown; five great grandchildren, Addisyn, Colt, Jameson, Waylon and Lincoln Brown.
In addition to her parents, Caribeth was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Legats, who passed away in 2000, and one sister, Gari Lynne.
The family would like to thank the staff and nurses of both Genesis Hospital, and Genesis Morrison House for the care and kindness extended to Caribeth, and her family, during her illness.
Friends may call Thursday, June 11, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at the Hillis Combs Funeral Home, 935 Forest Avenue, Zanesville, where the Muskingum Chapter of The Daughters of The American Revolution will conduct Memorial Services at 6:45 PM. Funeral Visitation will also be held from 10:00 AM till time of service at the church at 11:00 AM on Friday. Funeral Services will follow at 12 Noon, Friday, June 12, 2026, at First Christian Church, 3000 Dresden Road, Zanesville, with Rev. Laureen Roe officiating. Caribeth will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband in Zanesville Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christs Table or First Christian Church in Caribeth’s memory. To sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note of condolence please visit www.hilliscombsfh.com.
