Leone Tures Cheatom age 73 was born in Pocahontas, Mississippi on August 27, 1939. He went to be with the Lord on October 29, 2012 at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. Leone married Willette Robinson on August 8, 1964 at St. Thomas AME Zion Church in Tinton Falls, NJ
After graduating from Lanier High School in Jackson, MI. Leone joined the Army. He is a 30 year veteran and served tours of duty in Italy; Ft. Monmouth, NJ; Ft. Devens, Mass; a tour in Vietnam, a tour in Karlsruhe, Germany; a second tour in Vietnam, a tour in Worms, Germany one at the Yakima Training Center, a hardship tour in South Korea and a final tour at Ft. Lewis, W A retiring in 1988 with the rank of Sgt. Major. During his military career, Leone earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Management attending classes at night and on weekends at the various duty stations where he served graduating from the University of Maryland at Heidelberg, Germany in May, 1981. After military service, Leone worked for BiMart as a salesperson, 13 years for Yakima County as a security guard at the county jail, then as Juvenile Counselor, Juvenile Detention Manager and finally Juvenile Administer for the County. After retiring from that position, Leone worked for Hanford Patrol, a nuclear storage facility near Richland, W A as a Security Police Officer and retired after 5 years with the rank of Captain in charge of Logistics.
Leone was an active member of Bethel AME Church serving in positions as Director of Christian Education, Church School Superintendent, Lay Organization President, a Steward and a Trustee as well as teaching the Adult Sunday School Class. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and its doctrines.
Leone was an avid golfer often playing rounds with his friend and honorary son Leland Jiles of Lacy, W A. He very seldom traveled without taking his golf clubs along with him. He also loved to fish with his longtime friend Felix Gray of Yakima. Leone spent many hours listening to music and had an extensive collection consisting of cassettes, reel to reels, LP's, and CD's of Jazz, R&B and Classical music.
Leone served on the YMCA Board of Directors, The EPIC Board, Yakima Community Foundation and Yakima Schools Foundation and served four years on the Yakima School Board. He voluntarily tutored students in math at home and during the three years that Bethel AME Church hosted the Kirkland Academy for Excellence Summer School.
Leone was a staunch advocate for youth. He coached the Yakima Valley Grid Kids Eagles football team for nearly 30 years and was elected YVGKA Board Chair in February 2012. He has received numerous accolades for his involvement in the Yakima Community.
He is survived by his wife Willette, two sons Leon Anthony Cheatom of Yakima, Mark Alexander (Claudia) Cheatom of Union Gap, three daughters, Dorothy Bolton of Clinton, MS; Renata Solomon of Seattle; and Lanieka Miller; two brothers Willie Cheatham of Albion, MI and Dwayne Cheatham of Florence, MS; four sisters, Joanne Cheatham of Bolton MS; Ella Perry of Houston, TX; Stella Denson of Jackson, MS; Leonia Harper of Clinton, MS and seven grandkids, three great-grandkids and a host of cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Leon Cheatham, his mother Maggie Jones, Hi grandmother Maggie Collins, a sister Maggie Cheatham, and two brothers, Bobby Cheatham and Ozzie Cheatham, a granddaughter Alisha Wilson, and a grandson Mark Alexander Cheatom, Jr.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in care of Keith & Keith Funeral Home.
A funeral service will be conducted at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Keith & Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel. Burial will be at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA with full military honors. To share a memory of Leone please visit www.keithandkeith.com.
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