| Notes |
Died:
- Obituary
THOMAS H. LEONARD (1-13-1955 to 3-15-2003)
Thomas H. Leonard died March 15, 2003. He was born in La Junta, CO on January 13, 1955. He was preceded in death by his father, Warren Leonard; his Mother Annabelle C. Leonard; and his brother, Michael C. Leonard.
He is survived by one brother, Warren Ray Leonard; and three sisters, Joanna Metz (Jim), Vicki Smith and Roxi Graham (Scott) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place.
- The following is a “eulogy” that Annabelle had originally written as her “wishes” at the time of her death and the family modified. Again, Warren read this and Tommy’s “eulogy” at Annabelle’s and Tommy’s funeral services:
My family, we are gathered here today to say a few words in memory of Annabelle Hyrup Leonard, mother of six (6) children - Joanna Lee, Michael Chris, Vicki Lynn, Warren Ray, Thomas Hyrup, and Roxi Claire.
Michael passed away before Annabelle and of course, Tommy died alongside with Mom, and it was her hope to be with both of them.
Annabelle also has eight (8) grandchildren and 5 ¾ great-grandchildren. Her one sister, Patricia Yale, survives her also. Her two (2) brothers, father, mother, and grandmother preceded her in death.
Annabelle did not want a long service! She did, however, pick out this beautiful chapel that we are in today. Annabelle wished to be cremated and buried at Evergreen Cemetery beside her son, Michael. She requested that these four (4) short Bible verses be read -
Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 - Verses 1 through 4.
A Time for Everything
To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to sow and a time to reap.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to break down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance.
Annabelle was never a regular church member, but her children were raised honorably. She was a good wife, a good mother, and a good neighbor. She always maintained that her family would be left with lots of good memories. She wanted her family to know and understand that she had had all the good things in life and her time came as it does to all of us.
We offer sympathy to each other and hope that you will find the strength to accept this loss and carry on as Annabelle would want you to - always remembering, but knowing it must always be this way.
I will now say a few words about our brother, Thomas Hyrup Leonard. Tom was Annabelle’s fifth child and was born in La Junta, Colorado, on January 13, 1955. He was raised on the family farm and ranch in Karval, Colorado, until the age of 14. Tom graduated from Buena Vista High School in May 1974, but he regularly attended the Karval homecoming events.
Although he was limited in his athletic abilities, he had a strong passion for sports. Tom would smile and brag about each win of the Miami Dolphins, but would agonize over each loss. Every year he would follow the play of the Buena Vista High School Demons basketball team, especially when they played their league rivals, the Leadville Panthers who were coached by his friend Rick .
Tom had the same temper and stubbornness that all his siblings have. This trait was evident throughout his life in the jobs he had and the interactions with us all. Tom always held on to what he believed, even when it was contrary to what his family thought, and he always thought Mom was over-protective. Tom was living with Mom at Georgetown Square. We found this poem, which Mom had clipped out of the newspaper that is fitting of their relationship:
Me and Her
She is compulsive, I am impulsive.
She likes it hot, I like it cold.
She is neat, I am a slob.
I push, She pulls.
She says “Up”, I say “Down”.
She is day, I am night.
Living together is hard.
Living without her would be impossible.
We believe that when the chips were down, and Tom knew where the incident was heading, he fought the perpetrators to the best of his ability to defend his mother at the time of their deaths, and it is only fitting that he be laid to rest next to his Mom, and brother Mike, here at Evergreen Cemetery.
WE LOVE THEM ALL AND WILL MISS THEM FOREVER
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1955 - 2003 (48 years)