Timothy D Leonard

At the age of five, Tim and his family moved to a farm 18 miles from Beaver. He loved roaming cow paths with his older brother Bill, climbing creek banks, exploring and observing nature and creating his own games. Tim and Bill rode the bus to school over 90 miles of country roads each day. He had many memories of rural party-line telephones, electricity received from their own wind charger and going into town on Saturday nights. Living in the country, Tim learned an appreciation for nature, dependence on neighbors and how to be self-reliant. Tim had many happy early memories of living on the farm.

Tim attended Beaver High School, where he excelled in basketball, track and was class president for three years, graduating in 1958. He attended the University of Oklahoma on a four-year track scholarship, lettering all four years in cross country and track. While at OU, the track team won three Big 8 Championships, and Tim and three others still hold the OU school record in the two-mile relay (because distances changed to the metric system in 1974). Tim was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1962. Tim earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma in 1965.

Tim joined the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He served in the Pentagon and as a White House Military Aide to President Lyndon Johnson. In 1967, while in Washington, Tim met and married his lifetime love and partner, Nancy Laughlin of Freeport, Illinois.

Returning to Oklahoma in 1968, Tim first served as an Assistant Attorney General under G.T. Blankenship. Tim, Blankenship and future judicial colleague David Russell later went into private practice together.

In 1970, Tim and Nancy returned to Beaver where Tim went into law practice with his father Dwight in the firm of Leonard, Trippet & Leonard (later Leonard, Trippet, Leonard & Kee). In 1974, driven by his interest in public service, Tim ran for the U.S. Congress. In 1979, following in his father’s footsteps, Tim was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate, where he served as minority leader. In 1986, Tim was his party’s nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

In 1989, Tim was nominated by U.S. Senator Don Nickles and appointed by President George H.W. Bush to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. In 1991, Tim was appointed by President Bush to be a U.S. District Judge (1991-2026).

Tim was blessed with a family he loved deeply and who loved him deeply, and many special friends. Tim and Nancy were devoted to each other for 58 years of marriage. Tim and his brother Bill shared a lifetime of deep camaraderie and friendship. Tim adored his three children Kirstin, Ryan and Tyler and their spouses Sean, Carrie and Courtney. Tim and Nancy’s nine grandchildren each brought immense joy to his life. Poppy loved each of them deeply, and will be with them always in their hearts.

Tim and Nancy spent the last 28 years of their lives living on an acreage in NE Oklahoma City. Tim loved living in the country, cutting the grass, watching deer play, the flowers bloom and leaves turn. It brought him back full circle to the family farm in Beaver. He loved the land, and all of God’s creations.

Tim is survived by his wife, Nancy, his children Kirstin Pack and husband Sean, Ryan Leonard and wife Carrie, Tyler Leonard and wife Courtney, grandchildren Catherine Laughlin Leonard, Siena Laughlin Pack, Ainsley Mikell Leonard, William Ryan Leonard, Hallie Maunder Pack, Alexander Dwight Leonard, Blair Evelyn Leonard, Matthew Keating Leonard and Mary Frances Eliza Leonard, his brother William Lake Leonard, nephew William David Leonard, niece Elizabeth Lake Leonard (Paul) and his Leonard, Holder and Rich cousins. Tim is predeceased by his parents, William Dwight Leonard and Mary Evelyn Holder Leonard.

Tim’s life is the subject of “Tim Leonard, Son of the Panhandle,” authored by Bob Burke and Joe Heaton.

A visitation will be held at Hahn Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Home, 6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK on Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 2-4pm. A memorial service celebrating Tim’s life will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026, at 1pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4400 N. Shartel, Oklahoma City, OK. Internment is at Rose Hill Burial Park in Oklahoma City. The service will be livestreamed at https://wpcokc.org/livestream.