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Note: 2001 - March 8 - "The Canton Independent-Sentinel" - Canton, PA.:
On the evening of February 28, 2001, McNett Township resident, Leslie Saxon Leonard passed away quietly at his residence on Leonard's Road. He was just two days away from his 87th birthday.
Born on Shanty hill in the Tioga County hamlet of Leolyn on March 2, 1914, he was one of five children in the family of Frank and Mary (Saxon) Leonard.
He cme into the world during the March 1914 blizzard, when the snow drifts were up to the windowsills of this family's farm house. As a child he attended the one room school house and the newelltown Methodist Church.
Mr. Leonard was a man familiar with hard work, and he reveled in it. He was never happier then when doing some form of physical labor. As a young teenager he trekked over the mountain to work in the coal mine shafts of Morris Run. In those dangerous, deplorable environs he honed his exemplary work and helped alleviate the financial burdens at home.
During the 1930s he helped build the natural gas pipeline which meanders through the mountains. He also did road construction, logging and farming. He helped to construct the bridge along Rt. 14 near the Wheel Inn in Roaring Branch. Eventually Mr. Leonard acquired the skill of casting metal and was employed at various foundries.
During the war he worked for AVCO, casting engine blocks for aircrafts and up until fourteen years ago, was employed by Iron Cast, Inc., of Troy.
He met the love of life, Marguerite Stickler, on a blind date and after a five year courtship they were united in marriage on October 1, 1937. They raised three sons and a daughter and shared 65 years together.
During the lean years, when layoffs or strikes occurred, Mr. Leonard refused any form of public assistance. He simply took to farming, raising what was needed to feed his family, rather than accept government handouts. He was a firm believer in carrying his own weight and he instilled this into his children. He enjoyed gardening, walking and splitting firewood. Most of all, he simply enjoyed being in his own home surrounded by the family he loved. And when he left this life his beloved family was by his side.
Surviving are: his wife, Marguerite at home; sons Allyn (Ada) Leonard, Roaring Branch; Byron (Sylvia) Leonard, Red Hook, NY; Thomas (Sue) Leonard, Columbia Cross Roads; daughter June (David) Hottenstein, New Albany; brother Niles Leonard, Roaring Branch; sister Mabel Rumsey, Williamsport; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his brother Norvin Leonard and sister Gertrude McIlwain.
The funeral service was held March 3 from the Morse and Kleese Funeral Home, 4 N. Center St., Canton with the Rev. Duane Taylor officiating.
Interment was in Stull Cemetery.
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