Willie's Obituary
Willie Leon Dean, of Slidell, Louisiana, passed peacefully at his home surrounded by loving family members on Sunday, February 4th, 2024. He was 83. Although we will miss him, we know that he is now in his eternal heavenly home because of his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Leon is preceded in death by his parents, Willie Davis Dean and Lillian Banes Dean, and sister, Moselle Dean.
He was originally from Utica, Mississippi. During high school and college, Leon ran track and in his senior year of high school (1958) he was “the fastest man in Mississippi” in the 100-yard dash. He attended Hinds Junior College then Mississippi State University where he majored in accounting. He then moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he joined the church choir to meet a certain young lady. He and Kay were married in 1964 and lived in Winston-Salem until 1973 when the family moved to Slidell, where they joined First Baptist Church where he served faithfully for 50 years. He served as a deacon, choir member, the head of the building and grounds committee, a trustee, and countless other volunteer positions throughout the years. He also served his country proudly in the Army National Guard for 8 years. He worked as a contract specialist for the Defense Department until he retired in 1998.
He and Kay loved traveling and camping and they toured all 50 states and several foreign countries. They also loved taking their grandchildren on many of those trips. The last six years were filled with many fun times with their great-grandson.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 59 years, Kay Ammons Dean; daughter, Jennifer Dean Smith (Scott); son, Jeffrey Dean; Grandchildren, Steven Smith (Morgan), Caleb Smith, Jacob Smith (Sarah), Anna Smith; and one great-grandson, Gareth Smith; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Kathleen Ammons.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the mission fund of First Baptist Church, Slidell.
Leon’s celebration of life will be Thursday, February 8, 2024, at First Baptist Church of Slidell, 4141 Pontchartrain Drive in Slidell. Visitation will begin at 9:00am, followed by the service at 11:00am.
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