|
| |
Remembrance and Celebration of Life service for Leon E. Jewell, 79, of Enid, Okla., will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at First United Methodist Church, with the Revs. Randy Mitchell and Davis Chappell officiating. Family visitation will be 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at the funeral home. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
Leon was born Sept. 7, 1935, at St Mary's Hospital to Lloyd E. and Mildred V. (Green) Jewell and passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. He graduated from Okeene High School in 1953. While in junior high school, he began studying privately with Gerald Hemphill and continued throughout his high school years.
Upon graduation from high school, Leon entered Oklahoma University, majoring in aeronautical engineering.
He was a member of the Big Red Machine Band. Deciding the wanted to major in music, Jewell transferred to Phillips University in Enid, where he was director of music at Enid State School, a member of the 45th Division Army Band and a member of Phi Mu Alpha, honorary music fraternity.
He completed his master's degree at Phillips in 1975.
In June 1958, Leon and Nancy Bradshaw were united in marriage at the Methodist Church in Waynoka, where her father was pastor.
Following their marriage, the Jewells moved to New York City, where Leon was a member of the United States Army Band.
Their daughter Tracy was born while they were there.
Upon returning to Enid in 1960, he became the band director at Emerson Junior High School, which began a successful career that spanned 30 years.
He retired from Waller Junior High School in 1991.
During his tenure with Enid Public Schools, his bands received numerous awards, including Outstanding Marching and Concert Band at Tri-State Music Festival and Division I ratings at both pre-district and district contests.
Leon was a member of OBA and a past member of OMEA and ASNBDA, for which he served on various committees.
He was guest clinician of the Northwest Honor Band and the Red Carpet Honor Band. He was named Oklahoma Band Director of the Year in 1991.
He was a member of EEA, OEA and NEA and after retirement OREA.
He was inducted into the Oklahoma Band Masters Hall of Fame in 2000 and was managing director of Tri-State Music Festival from 2001-03.
Leon is survived by his wife, Nancy, of the home, and daughter Tracy; niece, Debbie Prather Knipe of Fountain Valley, Calif.; and nephew, Michael Prather, Folsom, Calif.
He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Skaidrite.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Circle of Love or First United Methodist Church, with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home as custodian of the funds.
Condolences may be made and the service viewed at www.ladusauevans.com.
(Submitted by family)
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2024 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.