Ralph Leeson, a lifelong resident of Springfield, passed away quietly on December 26, 2017. Mr. Leeson was 97 years old, having been born north of Springfield on February 10, 1920. Ralph''s birth mother, Loal Hall Leeson passed away when he was five years old. He and his brother were reared by his father and W.C. Leeson''s second wife, Ethel Malone Leeson.

He was reared on a farm north of Springfield and lived through the Great Depression. Ralph graduated from Ebenezer School after having completed the 8th grade, and received his Secondary School Diploma from Pleasant Hope High School. He enlisted in the Coast Guard and served during the Second World War. Ralph married Margolene Crooks who predeceased him in 2008. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mr. Leeson had been manager of classified advertising at the News Leader and Press. He was a member of Pathways (formerly Dale Street) United Methodist Church where he was a choir member, adult Sunday school teacher and a delegate to the State Conference. Ralph was also an accomplished musician and singer.

He leaves behind two sons, Gary William of Los Angeles, and Robert Stephen of Beaufort, South Carolina; four grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren; and a host of family and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at White Chapel (5234 W. State Highway EE Springfield, MO) with a burial to follow at Bellview Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made to www.klingnerfuneralhome.com