Leon McClelland was born April 9, 1932 in Annona, Texas to Charlie and Onnie (Wooten) McClelland.  He attended school in Paris, Texas and graduated from B.J. Graves High School.  After high school he was drafted into the US Army in 1952 and served in the Korean War.  After leaving the army he moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1955.

Leon worked as a civil servant at Williams Field Air Force Base where he was honored for his faithful, dependable service.  He always had a second job because he was a hard worker.  While working at the base he also worked for the City of Mesa at the Washington Activity Center for many years.  After 30 years of service, he retired from the base, but continued working at the Washington Activity Center.  He was known by the whole community.  He also worked at Arizona State University as a student parking lot attendant.

He belonged to the NAACP where he served as the treasurer in the Mesa chapter for many years.  He attended numerous city council meetings, making his voice heard on important issues.  If anyone had any issues in the community they knew they could come to him and he would help in any way he could.  He helped many home owners in the Washington neighborhood participate in the city house program, receiving new houses built in exchange for their old homes.  He worked tirelessly serving his community.  He was an active member of the Helping Hands Club for many years also. 

Leon’s past time was that he loved playing dominoes with his friends.  One of his favorite sayings when he was playing was “Crissie Mae or Christine aware big feet and bad hair”, it means gimme fifteen.

After moving to Mesa, Leon united with Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Chandler, Arizona and was a faithful member.  He later united with Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Mesa, Arizona under the leadership of Pastor Sherman Fort.

In 1957 he met Audrey (Thomas-Hemphill) McClelland.  They fell in love and later married and to this strong union a son was born; Leon McClelland, Jr.  Leon was a strong family man and cherished his wife and family.  He accepted responsibility for Audrey’s three children from a prior marriage and through his leadership the family was blessed and prospered.  They had 33 wonderful years of marriage.  Audrey preceded Leon in death on December 11, 1996.  Also preceding him in death are his three brothers Melvin, Noble, Sam and two sisters Eunice Giles and Annie Marie McClelland. 

Leon departed this life leaving to cherish his memory his children, Donna McCormick, Larry Hemphill, Debra Tolton (Robert), and Leon Jr.; his brothers James C. McClelland (LuVerna) of Mesa, Arizona; two sisters Eva Mae Mitchell of Chicago, Illinois, Leonia Robinson (Cleophus) of Willingboro, New Jersey, and Fannie Lois Pearce of Paris, Texas.  He also is survived by 8 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation is Monday, October 11, 2010 from 6-8 PM at Bunker’s Garden Chapel, 33 North Centennial Way in Mesa, AZ.  Funeral services are Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 10 AM at the Trinity Baptist Church.

Notification Published by Bunker Family Funeral Homes-Garden

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