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Leon C. Spidell
Here he comes and it was to be. Leon was born in Rupert, Idaho, on April 24, 1939, to Vern D. Spidell and Helen Williams. Leon took a special place in everyone's heart that day. It stayed that way until he left us on Dec. 7, 2011.
During his time on earth he became the best he could be at everything and anything he did. He was a highly regarded contractor and builder, a master chef in major hotels and an adventurer with tales that held us spellbound.
He served his military obligation with the Army Reserve. While serving he received a nomination to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He elected to leave the Army to concentrate on family. Leon was employed as the Mountain Home City Building Official, a job he respected and loved until he retired.
During his time as a Mountain Home Tiger, he was both an outstanding basketball and baseball player in addition to being a 4.0 student.
Leon's early life was all about hunting and fishing with his dad, brother and uncles. His favorite places had trees, sagebrush or water. As he aged he spent countless hours in the mountains by himself, fishing small streams, taking pictures of birds and animals. If he found a new road he would always go to the very end of it to see where it went.
Leon would teach anyone who was motivated about mountain life, he would teach them about guns, fly fishing and his love for the outdoors. We all took pride in learning from him and we are proud to pass his legacy along to our families.
In 2007, Leon was diagnosed with a bone marrow condition and he began his battle to defeat the disease and he fought like a warrior until his last day. He is a hero to his family.
Leon leaves behind a brother, Norman (Lennette) Spidell, sisters Judi Gossett, Sheryl Spidell, Andrea (Ron) Fisher, Holly Lucas and Donna Brito, children Cory, Lezlie, Mike and Amie and five grandchildren. Also left behind are many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Vern and Helen, stepmother Peggy Spidell, a son, Steven, a nephew, Bruce Malm, and stepbrother, John Brennan.
At Leon's request there will be no formal funeral service.
A graveside inurnment service will be held at 2 p.m., Dec. 14, at Mountain View Cemetery.
Cards may be mailed to Leon, P.O. Box 595, Mountain Home, Idaho 83647. His family would welcome your thoughts.
Donations may be made to either the Elmore County Search and Rescue Unit, 280 E. 5th North St., Suite 280, Mountain Home, ID 83647, or the Mountain Home Humane Society, P.O. Box 10, Mountain Home, ID 83647.
Heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Norman Zuckerman and his staff at MSTI and to all the nurses on 4-South at St. Luke's downtown, Father Ben in Mountain Home and to all of those who gave Leon care and love during this long illness.
It took a village.