Leo Marler

LEO WAYNE MARLER, SR. Leo Wayne Marler, Sr., son of Thomas Oval "Buck" and Adah Lee McGuire Marler, was born July 5, 1937, near Decaturville, Missouri. He departed this life Monday, July 7, 2014, in his home, near Linn Creek, Missouri, just two days after turning seventy-seven years of age. On November 3, 1956, in the home of Bob and Agnes Blankenship, he was united in marriage to Virgie Edwin Blankenship, and to this union three daughters and one son were born. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother and sister-in-law, Sonny and Fern Marler; and two brothers-in-law, Forrest Meads and Bobby Fleming. Leo is survived by his loving wife of fifty-seven years, Virgie, of the home; three daughters, Cecelia Eidson, and her husband, Gary, of Camdenton, Missouri, Robin Mankey, and her husband, Carl, of Macks Creek, Missouri, and Lori Marler, of Long Lane, Missouri; a son, Leo W. Marler, Jr., and his wife, Laurie, of Dove, Missouri; six grandchildren, Brett Eidson, and his wife, Naomi, of Mansfield, Missouri, Jake Eidson, and his wife, Kristin, of Camdenton, Missouri, Kyle Mankey, and his wife, Amanda, and Samantha Mankey, all of Macks Creek, Missouri, Jason Smothers, of Lebanon, Missouri, and Jessica Hendricks, and her husband, Carey, of Carrick on Shannon, Ireland; eight great-grandchildren, Kathryn, Andrew, Wyatt, Reed, Matthew, Anne, Elle, and Cooper; two sisters, Patsy Meads, of Springfield, Missouri, and Kay Goodwin, and her husband, Gary, of Lebanon, Missouri; a brother-in-law, James Blankenship, and his wife, Paula, of Grain Valley, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Bobby Fleming, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Billie Wilson, and her husband, Gary, of Independence, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; a special friend, Tina Thompson, of Long Lane, Missouri; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends. He was born in Decaturville, and was raised in the Competition, Missouri area. He then moved with his family to the Camdenton area, where he graduated from Camdenton High School in the Class of 1956. He worked for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri for two years, and then was employed by Foremost Dairy in Lebanon. In 1962, he opened Leo's 66 on the square in Camdenton, and operated the shop for ten years. He and Virgie made their home on their farm near Linn Creek, Missouri, and lovingly raised their family. After being elected as Camden County Clerk in 1972, he served the people of Camden County for twenty-eight years. During this time, Leo also served as President of the Missouri County Clerks Association. Throughout the years, he served on numerous other boards before retiring from the courthouse in 2000. For most of his life, Leo also farmed full time and especially enjoyed working in the hay fields. He bailed for himself and many friends throughout the county. Leo had made his profession of faith in Christ and was a member of Linn Creek Baptist Church. He had served as Chairman of the Camden County Ambulance District, and was a staunch Republican, standing with the Republican Party all of his life. He was always supportive of his children, and coached softball and baseball teams every year. If he was not coaching a team, then he was always at every game. He enjoyed being outdoors where bird hunting, and later, trap shooting were two of his favorite activities. He also had a knack for fixing equipment and liked farming. His family was very important to him and he especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Leo was a loving husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and know that he will be fondly remembered as a devoted family man, a concerned county official, a hard working farmer, and a good, Christian man. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 12, 2014 in Linn Creek Baptist Church under the direction of Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Mt. Horeb Cemetery, Decaturville. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Friday in the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Mt. Horeb Church or Regional Hospice and left at the funeral home. Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton is assisting the family with arrangements.