Leonard, known to most as “Leo”, grew up in Guymon, Oklahoma and left at the age of 19 to Lancaster, California. He found employment with Lockheed-Martin Aircraft Company, was a heavy equipment operator, and also owned and operated a couple bars. Leo moved back to the Texhoma, Oklahoma where he worked for his step-father, Jay Palmer, on his farm. He later began his career in law enforcement in Texhoma where he served as a patrol officer and volunteer firefighter. He continued his career with the Texas County Sheriff Department until 1998 when he moved to Erick, Oklahoma and worked for Northfork Correctional Facility as an officer. It was during this time he became reacquainted with DeeAnn (Merrill) and they were later married on August 14th, 1999 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Leo worked his way up to Sargent before he served as a patrol officer in Erick, Oklahoma. He returned to Northfork when it reopened in 2007 working until he formally retired in 2014. Leo could often be found tinkering with, fixing, and shooting guns. He also liked fishing, hunting, outdoor activities, and spending time with his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Jay Palmer; brother, Danny Smith; sisters, Eulalee Hubblehalf, and Paula Palmer.

Leo is survived by his wife, Dee-Ann, of the home; Dustin Smith, Lancaster, CA and Lisa Renee Johnson, Rockport, TX, Rick Elliott, Choctaw, OK and Kimberly Kreigh, Las Vegas, NV; 7 grandchildren; 5 great grandchildren; one sister, Barbara Allen, Erick, OK; one half-brother, Stan Kiser, Grand Junction, CO and a host of other relatives and friends.