Leon Dean, of Coleman, Okla., passed from this life on Thursday, November 10, 2022, at the age of 88. He was born on Friday, November 2, 1934, in Milburn, Okla., to Elmer Olen and Fannie Gertrude (West) Dean, weighing in at 13 pounds, larger than life from the get go.
Leon was a cattle rancher, calling the cows his babies and confiding to them they were prettier than his girls. He loved baseball, and could tell you minute by minute replays from 70 years ago. It was rumored that he cut his baby teeth chewing on a baseball and that he could kill a rabbit with a rock back in Coleman. He was a “history buff”. Leon loved to sing and hear good guitar picking. He surprised his nurse last week by singing to her “I like the way you wiggle when you walk…” and then told her he sang much better when he didn’t have a cold. Larger than life to the end.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 25 years, Dora Mae Workman; their daughter, Sherry Estep Simpson; his brother, Jesse Dean and a granddaughter, Katie Palmer.
He is survived by his daughters: Rhonda Nail and husband, John of Denison, Texas, Nancy Vincent and husband, Ben of Denison, Texas, Tammy Gibson of Denison, Texas; grandchildren: Brian Estep and wife, Gwen of Cartwright, Okla., Bradley Estep and wife, Iris of Austin, Texas, John Palmer of Denison, Texas, Logan Nail and wife, Shannon of Denison, Texas, Kalli Nuncio and husband, Roy of Denison, Texas, Sara Donihoo and husband, Tanner of Princeton, Texas, Ashley Logan and husband, Michael of Gunter, Texas, Jordan Gibson and wife, Ashley of Denison, Texas, Connor Gibson and Berlynn Yates of Sherman, Texas, Tristan Gibson and wife, Kayla of Durant, Okla.; 16 great-grandchildren, Austin, Avi, Jack, Billy, Bella, Brandon, Liam, Mila, Ryan, Jacob, Cruz, Hunter, Ryder, Sophie, Luke and Ian, along with numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. Third Ave. in Durant.
Phone: (580) 916-9090
www.gordonfh.com