James Howard "Jimmy" Leonard, Sr., was born on August 6, 1928 in Wynne, Arkansas and went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 27, 2015 in Memphis, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Bettye Browning Leonard; one grandson, Blake Leonard; his parents, George Thomas Leonard and Minnie Fulkerson Leonard; his sister, Lorena Leonard Davis; his brothers, Oscar Robert "Bill", LeRoy and G.L. Leonard. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Clarke Nolen Leonard; his two sons, James H. (LeAnn) Leonard, Jr. of Germantown, TN, and Ronald Lee (Marilyn) Leonard of Hermitage, TN; his grandchildren, April Leonard and Evan (Akiko) Leonard of Vashon Island, WA, Justin (Roxanne) Leonard of Houston, TX, Madison Leonard and Zac Leonard of Germantown, TN; and three great grandchildren. He also leaves stepchildren, Duncan Clarke of Cordova, Paul Clarke of Memphis, David (Susan) Clarke of Mason, Mary Clarke (Stan) Moore of Memphis and Deborah Clarke (John) Carrier of Hickory Valley, TN. He was a US Army veteran, honorably discharged in 1947. He was a retired salesman and had many good friends in the ice cream and mini market business. Jim was an avid golfer and was state champion at Daniel Webster High School in Tulsa, OK. He loved a good game of gin after a golf game but when he came to know the Lord he gave up the gin games and became one who loved studying God''s word. He was a member of Open Door Bible Church for 55 years, where he served as deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher. Funeral services will be at Forest Hill East Funeral Home on Friday, May 1, 2015 at 2 p.m. with visitation starting at noon. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Open Door Bible Church or Child Evangelism Fellowship of Memphis.

Forest Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, East
(901) 382-1000