Edward Leon Lawyer, 92, of Wellston, Oklahoma passed from this life on March 12, 2015 with his family at his side.

Edward was born on April 20, 1922 in Dewey, Oklahoma.

He was raised in Merrick and graduated from Tryon High School in 1940.

Following graduation, Leon enlisted in the U.S. Army, was assigned to the newly formed Army Air Corp where he became one of the first Army Air Corp cadets in Lansing, Michigan. He served his country honorably during World War II and was discharged at war’s end.

He returned to the family farm near Merrick where he met and subsequently married Peggy Phillips in 1950.

The next thirty years Leon’s work took him around world. First with family, now with three children, across the western United States as he maintained the equipment used to create the Interstate highway system and develop energy resources. In 1972, settling the family in Houston, Edward’s work took him to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America. He engineered and led projects for the oil industry. In 1982, Edward retired from the road at the age of 60. He and Peggy returned to the family farm in Merrick. He built his retirement home from the ground up, and set out to bring the farm back to life. Edward turned the farm into Three Oaks Ranch, a successful Limousin cattle ranch. Ranching was where he truly found his bliss. He loved his animals and considered his cows his “personal friends.”

Leon was an easy going and fun loving man who truly enjoyed nothing more than getting the best end of a business deal or telling a good joke. The simple things in life made him happy and he had a strong sense of community. He enjoyed the Guthrie Round-up Club. He was involved with the OK Limousin Bull Association and was the founder of the Merrick Volunteer Fire Dept. One of his proudest achievements in the community was the restoration of the Merrick School which he worked on with his son David for two years. Family was always Leon’s top priority and the highlight of his year was the annual Memorial Day family gathering. He was a wonderful man who touched many lives and he will truly be missed by all who knew him.

Edward Leon Lawyer was preceded in death by his parents, a son, David Lawyer and and a son-in-law, Jimmy Decker.

He is survived by his wife of over six decades, Peggy Lawyer, of the home; two children, John Lawyer and wife Susan of Tulsa and Joy Decker of Wellston; four grandchildren, Justin Lawyer and wife Jiehae, Jake Lawyer, Ross Lawyer and Katie Decker. He is also survived by one great grandson, Finnegan Lawyer and a great-granddaughter on the way.

Services have been entrusted to the care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home of Stillwater.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm on Monday, March 16, 2015 at the Iowa Chapel Cemetery in Lincoln County.

Public visitation will be held at the funeral home from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Merrick Historic Association for the schoolhouse in care of Palmer Marler Funeral Home, 5106 N. Washington, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74075.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.pmcfh.com.