Leroy J. Dana

Leroy J. Dana, 82, of Seaton died peaceably in the arms of his Savior on Monday December 12, 2016. A visitation will be held Friday, December 16th, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.  The Celebration of Life Service will be 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple. A private graveside service will be at a later date.  Pastor Terry Atkins will officiate. Leroy graduated from Temple High School in 1953 and soon after graduation, joined the 49th Division with the National Guard in Temple. In 1960 the 49th Division was mobilized to Ft. Polk, Louisiana for extensive training due to the Cuban Crisis.  Roughly a year later, after things settled down and the troops demobilized, Leroy returned home to Temple.  Leroy served 8 years and upon doing so retired from the military to tend to his family which included a 2 year old Karen, and soon to be born Kim.  Upon his return, Leroy returned to Wilsonart where he had been employed before leaving for Fort Polk. Leroy joined the Wilsonart Team in 1956 and was one of the originals that joined the company when it was new to the area.  He retired after 38 years of loyal service, due to health issues.  After a long rest, his health was restored and was able to enjoy vacations and took many cruises that he enjoyed to the fullest. Leroy loved all sports and always kept up with the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers.  He was quite the athlete himself as he loved playing baseball and was called many times by local teams to play in summer leagues around the area.  He never refused a good offer.  He played with the old Cen-Tex League, one being the Seaton Pearls for 7 years and 2 years with the Westphalia Farmers.  He played softball, fast pitch and slow pitch for the Wilsonart Team for 25 years.  Leroy loved to bowl, for a night out with the guys.  He bowled on the Wilsonart Bowling League for 30 years.  He later became an avid golfer and golfed with his buddies in tournaments, etc. for many years.  He also enjoyed many outdoor activities such as deer hunting and would grab a pole to go fishing at any given time. Leroy was a lifelong member of the S.P.J.S.T. Lodge 47 at Seaton.  He received the Lifetime Achiever Award in 2007.  He was on the Board of Directors from 2004 to 2015.  He served on the Rules & Regulations Committee and served on the State Convention for S.P.J.S.T. 2004, 2008 and 2012.  He loved serving as Chairman of the Cooking Committee to fry the chicken for the Annual Picnics for many, many years for the Lodge. Within the past few years, Leroy moved his church membership to Salem Lutheran Church in Rosebud, where he feels at home for worship. Leroy married the love of his life, Geraldine Dornhoefer of Zabcikville, on June 27, 1959 at Salem Lutheran Church in Rosebud.  From this union he had two daughters, Karen Jo Dana-Alves and Kimberly Kay Dana-Yepez. He was preceded in death by his parents, one daughter, Kim Dana-Yepez, a brother, Eugene Lee Dana and a close cousin, Robert Dana. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, of Seaton; one daughter Karen Jo Dana-Alves and her friend, Greg Peters of Spring; two grandsons, Matthew Alves of Houston and Heath Conde of San Antonio; two granddaughters Molly Alves Cynova and her husband Ben of Denver, Colorado and Heather Lee Conde and one great granddaughter Harmony Aguallo of Temple.  Also surviving is Kim Dana-Yepez’s spouse, Ruben Yepez, Jr. of Temple. Memorials may be made to American for Animals. Org or Cancer Care.org.