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Leon Blankenship © Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service Submitted by: Sharon
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Leon Blankenship
Mar 22, 1938 - Jul 19, 2026
Eddie Leon Blankenship, age 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Chouteau, Oklahoma, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 22, 1938, in Pryor, Oklahoma, to W.J. (Willie) and Madie Mozelle Blankenship. Leon married his beloved wife, Mary Wheeler, on May 10, 1958.
Leon spent most of his life in Chouteau, where he was active in the community. He was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years and the assistant fire chief for several years. He additionally served as mayor of Chouteau and a member of the City Council. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Jaycees and the Chouteau Alumni Association. He served on the Board of Directors of the Mayes Emergency Service Trust Authority (MESTA). Leon was employed by Public Service Company of Oklahoma for seventeen years, and then retired from American Airlines after nineteen years where he was an accountant at the Tulsa maintenance facility.
Leon was a man of strong faith who grew up and actively served the Chouteau Church of God as Worship Leader, Sunday School Superintendent and teacher and Church Council member. He supported many missionaries and made several mission trips to work in Bolivia and Ecuador to build churches. In 2008, he was inducted into the Hall of Christian Excellence for his exceptional lay leadership and personal integrity as a man of God. He led his family in faith, providing a foundation of love, prayer, and steadfast belief in Jesus Christ.
Many passions and achievements marked Leon's life. He was a collegiate boxer and later mentored young men as a boxing coach in Chouteau. He played fast pitch soft ball and inter-church basketball and was always up for a good foot race. He participated in the Senior Olympics, winning multiple medals in various events until the age of 75, when a farming accident ended his athletic career. He would drop everything for a domino game or to pitch horseshoes. He spent countless hours in recitals, gyms and at ball fields supporting his grandchildren and great grandchildren in their activities. He loved gospel music and enjoyed visiting residents in local nursing homes.
He is survived by Mary, his wife of sixty-eight years; his two children, Mark Blankenship of Atlanta, Georgia, and Sonya Donnelly and her husband, John, of Chouteau; his sister, Connie Hayles of Chouteau; his four grandchildren, Vicki Rhames and husband, Shad, of Claremore; Dallas Donnelly and wife, Chasidy, of Pryor; Casey Donnelly and wife, Brittany, of Bonham, Texas, and Cameron VonWald and husband, TJ, of Norman, Oklahoma; his eight great-grandchildren Adriana and Addison Donnelly, Hayden Burton, Kendrick Hershberger, Piper and Ezra VonWald, and Nora and Ruby Donnelly; brother-in-law Keith Wheeler of Pryor; sister-in-law Nancy Stafford of Chouteau; great-niece, Sydney Tillotson and husband Cole and great-nephew, Beau Hayles and Katie; great-great-nephews Cody and Lane along with many cousins and friends.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Mozelle Blankenship; his sister, Janice Louise; and his nephew, Allen Hayles.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 23, 2026 in the Chouteau First Baptist Church in Chouteau with Reverend Greg Garvie and Reverend Caleb Parks officiating. Burial will follow in the Chouteau North Cemetery with John Donnelly, Casey Donnelly, Dallas Donnelly, TJ VonWald, Hayden Burton, and Shad Rhames serving as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers will be Kendrick Hershberger and Bill Martin. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at Shipman's Funeral Home in Pryor. To leave his family a message, please visit his Tribute Wall at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service.
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