R. Leon Ealey was born on Winter Solstice, December 21, 1937, in Oxnard, California. He was born to loving parents, Henry Ealey and Julia Ida Ealey. He was the 11th child born of 12 to the Ealey family, and was the youngest living child. Leon grew up in the church and, always a musical soul; he would join a travelling singing quartet that would perform at different churches. Many who heard him sing spoke of his beautiful voice.
Throughout Leon’s childhood, he was eager to assist his parents by doing whatever he could to help the family lift some of their financial burdens – most often by cutting his neighbors lawns. Upon finishing his education at Oxnard High School, Leon, always an opportunity seeker, enrolled in the United Stated Air Force. Leon was always an independent person, and chose a career that would provide many opportunities, stability, and benefits to support his future family.
While stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, he met his soon to be wife Mary Lee Morgan. During their courtship, they would often go to the movies, and it was even one of their first dates. After eight months of dating, they cemented their commitment for each other and married on a Sunday evening, Leon’s 21st birthday in the home of his mother-in-law Nell Morgan. After they wed, the two lovebirds would travel the country to their new temporary home in Northern California at Travis Air Force Base.
During their time in California, Leon and Mary would have two children Janice Lorraine Ealey (Veal) in 1959 and Ronald Leon Ealey in 1961. As a family of four, during Leon’s time in the military, they would take their family across the country and around the globe. The family was stationed at places as close as Massachusetts and as far as Germany and England. Leon enjoyed the free travel the military provided, and he was especially fond of his many trips to Hawaii, with each homecoming always bringing his wife and children tropical gifts. Leon was also able to serve his country proudly in the Vietnam War. After 20 years of loyal service, Leon would later retire from the U.S Air Force, ending his military career as a Tech Sergeant.
After raising two wonderful children, Leon and Mary would eventually decide to part ways, but would maintain a warm friendship that would last until Leon’s passing.
Prior to his death, Leon was devastated to lose his two oldest children – Janice Lorraine Ealey (Veal) and Ronald Leon Ealey - 14 months apart, and then, a year before his own homegoing, having to once again deal with tragedy with the death of his youngest son Casey Lee Ealey. While his children never seemed far from his mind, he mentioned time and again the strength that his grandchildren and great grandchildren gave him, and the hope he had for the future of his family.
Leon profoundly loved his family and, while stoic in many ways, never held back from sharing his love for them. His legacy was extremely important to him, and this included making sure that the family stayed close. He did this routinely by organizing reunions at the Delta Ilse Resort on Memorial Day weekend every year and always being ready for a family game of dominoes.
During the early 2000’s Leon Ealey would meet Marilyn Boswell. They would have an 18-year partnership filled with loving memories of family reunions, festivals, and New Year’s Eve parties at Travis Air Force Base.
Marilyn was there for critical points in his life as a partner and dear friend to the family, most notably helping him cope with the loss of his three children. Marilyn would remain by his side to the very end. Upon retiring from her own job, Marilyn moved to Sacramento to be closer to Leon and assist him as his health began to decline. During his last year, Marilyn was a pillar of strength for Leon and his family, never missing a day to visit him, advocate for his rights, and always providing him with love and comfort.
While we treasure our memories, we know Leon Ealey has recently rejoined his greatly missed family that proceeded him in death: his parents Henry Ealey and Julia Ida Ealey (Dickerson), sister Irene Elizabeth Ealey, brother Thomas Henry Ealey, sister Joy Lee Ealey (Newton), brother Warren Alfred Ealey, sister Ida Pearl Ealey (Stanton), brother Mark Everett Ealey, sister Mindell Marie Ealey (Card), sister Jacqueline Ealey (Oliver), sister Mary Frances Ealey (Perryman), sister Betty Jane Ealey (Dorsey), brother William Edward Ealey, daughter Janice Lorraine Ealey (Veal), son Ronald Leon Ealey, and son Casey Lee Ealey.
He leaves behind Mary Ealey, granddaughters Kewana and Brandi Veal, grandsons Joshua Veal and Ronald Leon Ealey, Jr., great grandsons Ronald Leon Ealey III, Kameron Jones McKelvy, and Jaylen Eric Lee Veal, partner Marilyn Boswell, many nieces, and nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.
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