J. Fawcett

J. Leon Fawcett Well known Neodesha resident, Jesse Leon Fawcett, died Thursday, March 11, 2004 at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, He was 83. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Neodesha with the Rev. Kris Brinlee officiating. Burial will follow in the Neodesha Cemetery under the direction of the Loran Fawcett Funeral Home. The son of Loran and Gladys McDaniel Fawcett, he was born August 21, 1920 at McCune, Kansas. His parents moved to Neodesha when he was three months old. He graduated from Neodesha High School in 1938 and attended Northwestern University in Chicago, IL where he marched in the college band. He graduated with his mortuary science degree from Kansas City Community College and also served in the United States Army. He was united in marriage to Hilda Crumley on January 18, 1943 at the United Methodist Church in Neodesha. Mr Fawcett and his wife were the former owners of Loran Fawcett Funeral home and the Airosprayer company in Neodesha and also operated the ambulance service for the City of Neodesha for a number of years. He was an avid racing and St. Louis Cardinals Baseball fan, annually taking his grandchildren to St. Louis for games, and regularly attending the Indianapolis 500 race. He was a member of the United Methodist Church where he served in a number of capacities and sang in the choir. He was also a member of the Neodesha Lions Club for over 50 years. He was a former member of the USD 461 Board of Education, including serving as president of the Board. He was a former member of the Neodesha City Commission and represented the community as its mayor. Mr Fawcett also was a member of the Brown Hotel Association and a former member of the Neodesha Industries Board of Directors, the Neodesha Industrial Commission, the Neodesha Arts Association, the Neodesha Chamber of Commerce and both the Kansas and National Funeral Directors Association. Preceding him in death were his parents and a daughter Deena, who died July 20, 1991. Survivors include his wife Hilda of the home; a son, Dr. Michael Fawcett of Los Osos, California; a brother M.L. Fawcett of Houston, Tx; seven grandchildren, John Fawcett of Eudora, Ks, Jason Fawcett of Plymouth, NH, Brooke Baird of Crookston, MN, Quinn Harper of Providence, RI, Daniel Fawcett of Osaka, Japan, Abbey and Wyatt Harper both of Lawrence, Kansas and five great grandchildren. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 1-8 p.m.. and on Monday from 9a.m. to 8 p.m.. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church, and the Neodesha Arts Association or the Brown Hotel.