Harold “Leon” Walser was called home to be with his Lord on Feb. 12, 2019, at Houston House, Houston, Mo. He was 89, just shy of his 90th birthday.
He was born March 31, 1929, in New Franklin, Mo., to James William and Cassie Dell (Green) Walser, the second oldest of four boys. James “Hal”, Harold “Leon,” Bobby and Tilford “Dale” were raised in Howard County, Mo., close to their mother Cassie’s family, the Greens. The early and untimely death of their sweet mother when the boys were very young resulted in Leon’s father moving them to Texas so that the Walser family could help raise them. While there, they worked on various cotton farms near Denver and Seagraves, Texas. Leon and his brothers were born during the time of the Great Depression so they were no strangers to hard times and hard work. He brought that hard work ethic with him throughout his life.
He was in his twenties and working on cotton farms when he met and married his first wife, Dorothea “Dot” Roberson. To this union was born three children, Roger Dale, Gary Dan and Beverly Blanche. He then began his career working in the oil fields and followed the rigs around west Texas until settling in Pecos, Texas, for several years.
Leon divorced and remarried to Eulalia “Cissy” Zamora and continued working on rigs throughout Texas. He would return to his Missouri roots in the late 70s. He, his wife Cissy and daughter Elizabeth “Liz” moved to a farm in the Tyrone area, not far from the 200-acre farm he had purchased in the late 50s. He began farming and logging but returned to Texas several time to work on rigs and even for awhile in Panama. He eventually retired to farming, logging, cutting firewood and mowing a few church cemeteries. His two sons relocated to Missouri, each raising their large families nearby.
Leon received the Lord as his Savior and was baptized while attending Nagle Christian Church. He and Cissy faithfully attended services until their health began to fail. He made many lifelong friends while attending Nagle. Leon and Cissy also enjoyed attending area gospel, bluegrass and country music oprys and festivals. He enjoyed gardening and gathering with friends and family on weekends to play board games, dominoes, and his favorite, checkers.
When his wife, Cissy’s health declined and she passed, he was relocated to Houston House. While there he made many new friends amongst the residents and staff. He was continually noted as being charming, polite and kind by staffers and visitors. Leon was always very appreciative of any visitor who brought fresh vegetables from a garden (squash being his favorite), birthday cakes or pies (coconut cream was a favorite) as well as an occasional burger and fries. Nothing brought him greater pleasure than playing a game or two or three or four of checkers! He played his last games with his grandson, Daniel just a few weeks before his passing.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents; his younger brothers, Bobby Gene, and Tilford Dale; his daughter-in-law, Nancy; two grandsons, T.J. Tucker and Cecil “Pistol”; and his wife of almost 50 years, Cissy.
He is survived by his older brother, Hal Walser of Waverly, Mo.; his four children, Roger Walser of Yukon, Gary Walser and wife, Evangeline, of the Philippines, Beverly Bishop and husband, Johnny, of Pecos, Texas, and Liz Walser Zamora of Mississippi; a daughter-in-law, Sherry Walser of Elk Creek, Mo.; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 11 great great-grandchildren; good friends, Ron and Bobbi Sparks; along with many others too numerous to mention.
Visitation is 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2, at Evans Funeral Home with a memorial service beginning at 11 a.m. in the chapel with Dr. Terry Snelling officiating. Cremation was under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
The family respectfully suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Leon Walser Memorial Fund to help purchase of headstone. Donations may be left at Evans Funeral Home. Go to www.evansfh.com to express online condolences.
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