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Leslie Dean Justus
May 3, 1957 - Jul 16, 2024
Posted by Sharon Adams
©
Trout Funeral Home & Crematory
(permission granted)
Longtime Perry resident and PHS administrator and coach, Les Justus passed from
this life on July 16, 2024, at his home with his family by his side.
Leslie Dean Justus was born May 3, 1957 to Robert Curtis and Norma Jacquelyn
(Stretch) Justus in Pawnee, Oklahoma. Les attended kindergarten in Perry before
his father's job as a highway patrolman moved them to Guymon, where he attended
elementary school. The family then moved back to Perry where Les attended and
graduated from Perry High School in 1975. He played football and basketball for
the Maroons, where he was made captain his senior year in both sports, as well
as baseball and track. It was tradition that the escort and attendant go on a
date after a homecoming event. During the football coronation, Les was the
escort to Sheri's sister, but Joyce already had a boyfriend, so she asked Sheri
to step in as Les' date that evening. This was the beginning of a
fifty-year-long partnership. After graduation, Les received a scholarship to
play football at Northeastern State University. Education was very important to
Les, and he chose to end his football career by finishing college with Sheri at
Oklahoma State University. Les graduated from OSU with a Bachelor's degree in
Social Studies.
and Sheri were married on May 27, 1978. They made their home in Garber where Les
began his career in 1980 as a social studies teacher and assistant football
coach at Garber High School. Their daughter, Jaymi, was born during their time
in Garber. Les was then offered a position as the seventh-grade football coach
and Modern and World History teacher in 1982 at Perry. Thus began a long career
in the Perry Public School system. Les coached junior high and high school
football, basketball, baseball, and golf, but football was always his favorite.
Son, Curtis, and daughter, Jacqui, were born during Les' stint as a coach and
teacher at PHS.Les
decided to go back to school to earn a Master's degree in Education
Administration. He became the principal for Perry Mid High in 1992 and then the
high school principal in 1995. Les was offered the position of Superintendent of
Billings Public Schools in 2005 and retired after three years in Billings. After
a short break, where he worked for J&J Solutions, Les was asked to fill in as
the Perry High School Principal for the 2012-2013 school year. It was only
supposed to be for one year, but he found himself staying for five years. Les
retired for good in 2017. Les was known as a tough but fair coach, teacher, and
administrator, pushing his students and players to do their very best. Numerous
students and players tell stories about getting into trouble but then receiving
a second chance and a life lesson from Coach or Mr. J.
had numerous hobbies throughout his life. He loved woodworking and built not
only the house that he and Sheri designed in 1993 but the majority of the
cabinetry and furniture in that house. He spent numerous hours outside gardening
as well, putting the skills he learned from his Grandma Maudie to use. Les and
Sheri moved next to the golf course in 2015 where Les continued to remodel the
interior of the house, build more furniture, expand the gardens, and drive his
golf cart out of the back of his shop to play a round almost every day. Les
loved to build rocking horses and other pieces for his family, extended family,
and friends. Les also served on the local Habitat for Humanity Board, as the
Noble County Board of Health Chairperson, and served the Christ Lutheran Church
in several different capacities. Les' favorite hobby, though, was coaching and
cheering on his children and grandchildren. He was never more proud than when he
watched Jaymi, Curtis, and Jacqui perform and succeed in their choice of
activity and then each of his grandchildren as they came along. He taught his
children and grandchildren many skills in sports, but also lessons in life. Les
and Sheri took the opportunity to travel throughout their busy life together.
Les' lifelong love of Cardinal baseball frequently sent the family to St. Louis
and other cities that were hosting the Cards at the time. Les and Sheri traveled
to many other places where Les often took the opportunity to play golf. They
also had the opportunity to visit several European cities and countries. Les and
Sheri lived a full and happy life together.
Les
is survived by his wife Sheri of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Jaymi and
Chris Thompson, Perry; son and daughter-in-law, Curtis and Elizabeth Justus,
Frisco, Texas; daughter and partner, Jacqui Justus and Thomas Bates, Stillwater;
grandchildren, Aiden, Kian, Cameron, Anneliese, and Ronan; brother and
sister-in-law, Bob and Joy Justus, Perry; brother, Tom Justus, Santa Fe, New
Mexico; mother-in-law, Margaret Seeliger, Perry; sisters- and brothers-in-law,
Glenda and Don Andrew, Perry, Joyce and Lincoln Lambert, Stillwater, Kara and Richard Levings,
Perry; and many nieces and nephews.
He
was preceded in death by his parents, Curt and Norma Justus, and his
father-in-law, Glen Seeliger.
A
memorial/remembrance for Les will be held Monday, July 22nd at 6:00 pm at the
Perry High School Auditorium. Those attending are encouraged to wear their St.
Louis Cardinals or favorite sports team gear.
A service will also be held
Tuesday, July 23rd at 10:00 am at the Christ Lutheran Church with a short
graveside service following at Grace Hill Cemetery.
Casket bearers include Ronnie Delk, Brandon Hight, Travis Wilhelm, Garrett
Beier, Tom Betchan, and Kyler Zagar. Honorary casket bearers include Don Betchan,
Doug Hodge, Jeff Zagar, Rhonda Stevens, Brent Kemnitz, and Darby Colen.
Memorial contributions or checks may be written to the Perry High School Alumni
Association (Perryokalumni.com or PO Box 327, Perry, OK 73077), the Christ
Lutheran Church (Give.tithe.ly or 1301 N. 7th St, Perry, OK 73077), or the
Alzheimer's Association (alz.org or 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor. 17, Chicago, IL
60601.)
A
livestream will be available for both services. Arrangements are under the
direction of Trout Funeral Home of Perry, 1408 N 7th St, Perry, OK 73077.
We
invite you to leave a message of condolence, expression of sympathy or perhaps
share a memory of Les at www.troutperry.com.
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