Leonard Earl Nees, Sr., 65, of Hoxie, died January 16, 2014 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. He was born March 25, 1948 in Sapulpa, OK, to William Ludwig and Rosetta Pickett Nees. On March 19, 2011, he married Mary Madden in Hoxie. He was a US Army veteran who served in the Vietnam conflict. He worked as a carpenter in the housing industry and was of Baptist belief.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Linda Diane Nees; brother, John Thomas Nees; sister, Kathryn Marie Nees; grandson, Joseph Eugene Hulen; granddaughters, Rachael Ann Hulen and Crystal Lynne Gibson.

Survivors include his wife, Mary of the home; son, Leonard Earl Nees, Jr. (Sandy) of Peach Orchard; daughters, Lorretta Decker of Bono and Lisa Hulen (Bill) of Black Rock; brother, William Benjamin Nees (Brenda Joyce) of Valdosta, GA; step-children, Janet Smith of Hoxie, Donna George (Morris) of McComb, Barbie Caldwell (Shay) of Benton, Jennifer Doyle (Bobbie) of Pocahontas; fifteen grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 18th, 2014 from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon in the Cox-Fears Chapel in Walnut Ridge. Funeral services will immediately follow visitation under the direction of Cox-Fears Funeral Home with Shay Caldwell officiating. Burial will follow in Clover Bend Cemetery in Clover Bend.

Mr. Nees' grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.