Donnie Leonard

Graveside services for Donnie Leonard are scheduled for 10:00 AM, Saturday, July 8, 2023, in the Sundown Cemetery followed by a service to celebrate his life of 79 years at 2:00 PM, that afternoon at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church. He died on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Please find floral purchasing, and an area to share stories of Mr. Leonard with his family here on this page.

Donald “Donnie” Keith Leonard was born March 20, 1944, to Merl and Ophelia (Palmer) Leonard in Longview, WA. He married Patsy Thompson on January 19, 1967, in Plains, Texas.

Donnie coached football in Hale Center and Sundown before being drafted into the Army in 1969 and served in South Carolina for two years.  Although they were poorer than dirt (according to them both), Donnie and Patsy enjoyed their years in Charleston, SC going to many Civil War battle sites and fishing in the swamp.

In 1971, they returned to West Texas to coach at Roosevelt HS.  This is where they welcomed their first child, Michelle.  Donnie then became a coach at Anton before deciding to go into the insurance business.  While in Lubbock, their family grew to 4 when Keith was born in 1975.  They stayed in Lubbock, where Patsy completed her degree and became a teacher.

Donnie was a trusted confidant and advisor in his field as an insurance agent and financial advisor.  He earned his Certified Life Underwriter certification. Donnie was also a founder of People’s Bank and served on the Board of Directors there for many years.

Through his years of coaching and selling insurance, he collected many friends along the way.  Donnie always considered himself a teacher and advised many in their finances.   He never met a stranger and was always ready with a story or a prank.  He loved his family and friends fiercely.  Most of all, he loved his dear Spot Ellen (Patsy) for over 58 years.

Mr. Leonard is survived by his wife, Patsy Leonard; daughter, Michelle (Reagan) Stuart; son, Keith (Kristen) Leonard; grandchildren, Ellen Stuart, Emily Stuart, Thomas Leonard, Bishop Leonard, and Isabelle Leonard; great-grandchild, Kohen Chavez; brother, Michael (Patty) Leonard; and sister-in-law, Linda Leonard.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Merl and Maxine Leonard, and a brother, Bobby Leonard.

The family of Donnie Leonard suggests memorial donations to a charity of your choice in his memory.