- Date Of Birth: May 20, 1924
- Date Of Death: July 1, 2017
- State: Louisiana
Faithful in life, victorious in death
Heaven rejoices as the soul of Leon Lee Fields, 93, peacefully returned to the Lord on Saturday, July 1st, 2017. Leon was born May 20, 1924 in Alicia, Arkansas, to the late Annie Smith Fields and William H. Fields. He is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Anita Apodaca Fields; daughter, Judy Fields Jennings (George Jennings); daughter Sandra Fields Harper; son, Carroll Leon Fields (Gwen Sherwood Fields); sister, Joann Fields Chandler; sister, Patsy Fields Hughes; 8 grandchildren (and spouses); 10 great grandchildren; 1 great, great grandchild and many friends.
An honored veteran of the United States Navy, Leon served four years in World War II aboard the USS Neosho, and was involved in several Pacific campaigns including Okinawa and Iwo Jima. It was during that period he met his vivacious and lovely wife, Anita, while on leave in Los Angeles, California. Unable to resist the quiet magnetism, quick wit, trademark dry humor, and warm smile of the sailor known by many as “Red” (because of his uniquely pigmented tresses), they married on November 14, 1945, and journeyed cross-country shortly thereafter to begin what would become a full and beautifully lived life in northeastern Louisiana. Much like his ancestors before him, Leon spent the majority of his life working as a farmer; laboring tirelessly for his family amidst the fields that shared his name. He also spent 17 years working as a millwright for International Paper Company. Leon was a man of quiet strength and dignity. He listened before speaking, always with a bounty of wisdom to impart at the ready.
