Leonard Briley

Services for Leonard Dean Briley, 90, of Ada are 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 19 at the First Baptist Church in Ada, Revs. John Haynes, Jerry Wells, Brad Graves and Harold Ware will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. The Chickasaw Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday at Criswell Funeral Home.

Leonard passed away Friday, July 14, 2017 at his home after a battle with cancer. He was born on a farm near Webbers Falls, OK December 19, 1926 to Henry Frank and Minnie Bell Carson Briley. He graduated from Webbers Falls High School in 1944 and attended Northeastern State College, Connors Jr. College and graduated from East Central University in 1952. While attending college, he was drafted into the U. S. Army and was stationed in the Philippines and later during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1951.

Leonard married Iva Jo Lowrimore June 7, 1950 in Kinta at her parents' home. After 53 years of marriage, she preceded him in death January 28, 2004. He later married Pat Jarrett on September 10, 2011.

Leonard coached high school Basketball, Baseball and Golf. He then got into City Management and was City Manager in the towns of Okmulgee, Muskogee, Ada and Duncan. He also worked for a time as Personnel Manager for Coburn Optical Manufacturing in Muskogee and the Small Business Development Center at ECU in Ada.

Leonard enjoyed playing golf every chance he got with the Lakewood Sr. Golf Assn. and he loved traveling.

Leonard was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Ada since 1975 where he served as Deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was very involved in Lay Evangelism work and Gideon's International. His desire was for everyone to have their own copy of the Bible, and to hear the Gospel.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Pat, of the home; son, Stan Briley and wife Stacie of Ada; daughter, Becky Briley Kerr and husband Kerry of Carl Junction, MO; four grandchildren, Danielle Briley Bass and husband Sam of Norman, Holly Kerr Karhoff and husband Geoff of Lincoln, NE, Darren Briley and wife Joanna of Gahanna, OH, and Hannah Kerr Salas and husband Matthew of Bixby, OK; four great-grandchildren, Carson and Landon Briley, Camden Bass, and due in September 2017, Brady Karhoff; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Leonard is also survived by his "bonus family" whom he loved very much. Daughters, Gina Jarrett Maqusi of Tulsa, Dana Jarrett, Pam Simpson, and Kayla Jarrett Luce and husband Billy, all of Ada; and six bonus grandchildren, Emali Maqusi, Elana Maqusi-Beaver and husband Ron, Jordan Maqusi, Ashley, Jadyn and Maci Luce.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Iva Jo; granddaughter, Johnna Kerr; seven siblings, Carl, George, Warren, Marvin, Glen, Ethel and Beulah, and their spouses; and several nieces and nephews.

Bearers will be Danny Matthews, Tim Eaker, Kevin Bell, Trent Briggs, James Speed and John Floyd. Honorary bearers will be his Sunday School Class at the First Baptist Church, Deacons of the First Baptist Church and the Gideon's from the Ada Camp.

The family says those who wish may make memorials to the First Baptist Church Falls Creek Building Fund, c/o the First Baptist Church, 521 S. Broadway, Ada, OK 74820; and to the Gideon Memorial Bible Chairman, P. O. Box 1821, Ada, OK 74820.