Leonard Price was born in Gate, Oklahoma on February 17, 1930 to Milton and Opal Hester Price. Leonard had four little sisters, Lauretta, Katherine, Bobbie, and Virginia. The Price family moved to Colorado in January of 1938 to what Lauretta described as an old farm house you could see through.



As a boy growing up, he set trap lines for small game. His sisters, Lauretta and Bobbie said they were his trapping buddies until his friends came around, and the sisters werent his trapping buddies anymore. He spent his youth helping on the family farm-milking, hauling cream, thrashing grain, and whatever else needed to be done. After high school, he moved to Cheyenne Wells and went to work for Nels Hevner at his meat processing business where Leonard learned his life-long trade.



He married Morena Duvall on March 25, 1951 in Clayton, New Mexico. They made their home north of Wild Horse. Leonard worked for the Cheyenne County Road and Bridge, and Morena did the farming. Their children, Debbie and Montie, were born while they lived there. Leonard, Morena, and their children moved to Wichita, Kansas in 1955 during the dirty 50s when Morena told him she wasnt going to have her babies covered with dirt when they woke up. Leonard had a job with Boeing Aircraft when they left Colorado, but when they arrived in Wichita, Boeing had shut production down temporarily, and there was no job. Leonard said he put on his white shirt, best pants, and started knocking on doors. He went to work at Sunflower Packing Plant and moonlighted as a commercial janitor and painter. In 1963, a little grocery store in Haswell was for sale. Leonard and Morena bought L & M Market and moved their family out of the city. They loved the small town atmosphere and friendships that they developed. They ran the store as a family business, and taught their children the value of a strong work ethic, honesty, and respect for others. Not that they werent busy enough, they also ran a rural mail route and a school bus route. In 1976, they built a meat processing plant in Haswell, sold the store, and Leonard worked there until his retirement in 2002.



In February of 1993, Leonards heart was broken with the death of his wife Morena. Leonards life would never be the same, but on January 13th, 1996 Leonard went on a blind date with Earlene Karle. A date that had been set up by their dear friend, Connie Eck was the beginning of nearly 13 years of love, laughter and fun. They shared trips to Elko, Nevada with many of their family and friends. At that time Leonard was living on the Lewis ranch. There, Leonard and Earlene shared many things that they both loved attending cattle, yard work, fishing, trips to Cripple Creek and most important were the times they spent with their family and friends. There were lots of happy memories there. On December 10, 1996, Leonard returned to his plant , L & M Processing. The work and worry began. Leonard had several hard working and wonderful employees and before long, things were running smoothly. Leonard sold his plant to his granddaughter and her husband, Scott and polly Gyurman. Retirement life once again! Leonard was such a hard worker, that he was really lost for a while. He and Earlene started enjoying life once again with family reunions, fishing, time spent with family and friends. Leonards eyes would really light up when grandchildren and great grandchildren would walk through the door. He loved holding the little ones and teasing the older ones. Leonards health started to decline some in 2005, but he still enjoyed time and laughter with family and friends. Leonard and Earlene shared many good times, sad times, work and worry, but they handled it all together and he will be missed very, very much.



Leonard served his community in countless ways including as a member of the Haswell Town Council, the Weisbrod Hospital Board, and as a Kiowa County Commissioner for two terms. He enjoyed being a contributor to the communities, and working with the people of Kiowa County.



He loved to hunt and fish. He spent many happy hours fishing with his kids and grandkids, letting each and everyone one of them know that he always caught the biggest fish. He also loved the horse races. He always had a wonderful time with Merle Frazee and his family at the races. Leonard truly enjoyed his recreational time with family and friends.



Leonard was predeceased by his parents, his wife Morena, sisters Katherine and Virginia, and Wayne Karle. He is survived by Earlene Karle, children Debbie (Ron) Howe, Montie (Gloria) Price and Ramona Jones, step-son Michael Karle, six grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren as well as by his sisters Lauretta (Rodney) Blankenbaker and Bobby Harris.


Leonard Price died on December 13, 2008 unexpectedly at his home in Haswell. Funeral services were held on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at the United Methodist Church in Eads with the Rev. Nancy Peacock officiating. Casketbearers were: Brad Howe, Ryan Howe, Glendon Price, Terrell Price, Will Lewis and Karl Eikenberg. Honorary casketbearers were Michale Karle, Bud Wiser, Bill Musgrave, Merle Frazee, Frankie Stoker, Paul Zimmerman, Steve Trujillo, John A. Stavely and Floyd Cordova. Love Lieble was the pianist for the service and Charlotte Woelk was the organist. Vocalists were Jerry Herrell and Butch Frasier. Final committal services were held at the Haswell Cemetery in Haswell, Colorado. Friends and family can register online condolences and sign the guest book at www.brownfuneraldirectors.com. Visitation and funeral services were entrusted to the care of the Brown Funeral Home in Eads.