Clyann Leonard

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Clyann Swetnam Ellis Leonard, 79, of Jonesboro passed away Saturday, April 12, 2025. She was born April 21, 1945 in the Childress Community in eastern Craighead County to Thomas Andrew and Era Clyatt Swetnam. Clyann attended Childress School for 10 years until it consolidated with Monette. She graduated from Monette in 1963. As soon as she finished high school she left the cotton patch behind and moved to Jonesboro. Went to work for City Water and Light in 1965. Married Warren Ellis in 1965. She had Chris and Mollye. Chris played sports all through school and coached several years. Mom attended lots of ballgames he played in and coached in at Walnut Ridge, DeQueen, and Beebe. Mollye had Reed and Morgan. Morgan played sports from kindergarten all through high school at Westside and summer league softball. Granna was there to watch. Then Reed had Bella and Granna watched her play softball at 3 years old. This was after she retired on June 30, 2000 from CWL after 35 years of service. She married Paul Frank Leonard on January 1, 2005. She was preceded in death by her parents and Frank, and her brother, Tommy Swetnam.

Clyann was saved at the age of 11 and was a member of Childress Baptist Church. She was a member of Fisher Street Baptist Church from 1973 until 1990. In 1990 she started attending Nettleton Baptist Church and joined in 1993.

She is survived by her son, Chris and his wife Dr. Kimberley Sartain-Ellis of Southside; daughter, Mollye and her husband Larry Bice of Bono, AR. Her late husband’s children, Rick (Josie) Leonard of Bono, Mike Leonard of Memphis, Cherrie Stonich (deceased), Paula Smith (Dale) of Colorado, and Sandra Carrow (Jim) of Festus, Missouri; grandchildren, Reed Alexander (Haley) of Bono and Morgan Bell (Scott) of East Prairie, Missouri; two great granddaughters, Liberty Bell of East Prairie, Missouri  and Isabella Alexander of Bono; great grandson, Ohlin Roush Bell of East Prairie, Missouri; her late husband’s 10 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren; sister, Mary Lou Gower (Bob) of Mountain View; sister-in-law, Barbara Swetnam of Brookland; nieces, Melanie Gilbert (Joe) of Alco, Elizabeth Mealer (Ted) of Mountain View, Mindy Smith (Chris) of Jonesboro, and Ashley Smith (Drew) of Memphis; and one nephew, Andy Gower (Tonya) of Mountain View. Clyann also leaves behind a host of other family and friends.

The visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. at Emerson Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

The service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at Emerson Funeral Home with George Williamson officiating. Burial will be delayed due to unforeseen weather complications. The pallbearers will be Reed Alexander, Scott Bell II, Andy Gower, Greg Armstrong, Rick Leonard, and Mike Leonard. The honorary pallbearers are CWL Retirees and NBC Sanctuary Class.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Macey Cemetery c/o Larry Ladd, 1401 Kelton Street, Lake City AR 72437 or NBC Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 2415, Jonesboro, AR 72402.