Paul Franklin Leonard

Paul Franklin Leonard, age 81, of Jonesboro, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at NEA Baptist Medical Center in Jonesboro.

Paul was born June 13, 1937, to Delmer and Thelma Leonard of MoArk, Arkansas at Neelyville, MO. He graduated from Corning High School in 1956 and went to St. Louis to work. Paul married Loretta Spence on April 15, 1958. He retired in 1988 from General Motors and returned to Paragould.

Paul moved to Corning and was saved at Corning United Methodist Church in 1990. He moved back to Paragould from Corning and became a member of Shiloh Methodist Church where, in 1991, he was Lay Leader, Sunday school Superintendent and a Certified Lay Speaker. Paul married Clyann Swetnam Ellis on January 1, 2005, He was presently a member of Nettleton Baptist Church.

Paul was preceded in death by his first wife, Loretta, in 1999; his parents, and a sister, Joann.

Survivors include his wife, Clyann Leonard of the home;
7 children and their spouses: Rick and Josie Leonard of Bono,
Cherrie Stonich of Kennett, Missouri, Mike Leonard of Memphis,
Paula and Dale Smith of Kennett, Sandra and Jim Carrow of Festus, Missouri,
Chris Ellis of Beebe and Mollye and Larry Bice of Bono;

Grandchildren and their spouses: Chris and Olivia Leonard of Hutto, Texas,
Jeff Leonard of Moore, Texas, Amy Leonard Hurley and husband J.L. of Phoenix, Arizona,
Joe Stonich of Waterloo, Illinois, Kevin and Victoria Smith of Colorado,
Brandon Smith of Colorado, Jimmy Carrow of Festus, Missouri,
Melissa Pullum and Danny Davis of Poplar Bluff, Missouri,
Toshya Leonard and Bradley Stringfield of Oliver Springs, Tennessee,
Destiny Smith of Kennett, Missouri, Abby Leonard of Bono,
Nicole and Bobby Cooksey of Lake City, Tiffany and Kenton Osborn of Cheyenne, Wyoming,
Britany Smith of Jonesboro, and Reed and Haley Alexander of Bono;

1 special grandchild, Morgan Bice-Bell and Scott Bell II of East Prairie, Missouri;

Great grandchildren: Ben Stonich, Waterloo, Illinois, Carson, Owen and Harper Hurley of Phoenix, Arizona, Ayla, Rylan and Ella Grace Carrow of Festus, Missouri,
Justice, Theodore and Ellie Leonard of Hutto, Texas, Connor Pulliam of Poplar Bluff, Missouri,
Eden and Erica Osborn of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jordan Cooksey of Lake City,
Bella Alexander of Bono and Liberty Bell of East Prairie, Missouri; and

1 brother and his wife, Lowell and Nancy Leonard of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Nettleton Baptist Church, 7001 E. Johnson Ave., Jonesboro, with Dr. Stan Ballard officiating. George Williamson will deliver the eulogy. Burial will follow in Shiloh Cemetery in Paragould with Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro in charge of arrangements. Visitation will precede the funeral service from 9:00-10:30.

Active pallbearers include grandsons Joe Stonich, Christopher Leonard, Jeff Leonard, Kevin Smith, Brandon Smith and Jimmy Carrow;

Honorary pallbearers include his UAW friends, NBC Sanctuary Sunday school class members and Shiloh UMC friends.

For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to Nettleton Baptist Church Building Fund, 7001 E. Johnson Ave., Jonesboro, AR 72401, or Shiloh Cemetery Fund, 5844 W. Kingshighway, Paragould, AR 72450.