KNOX, Leon

Vistoso Funeral Home, Oro Valley, Arizona Leon Knox July 26, 1926 - March 14, 2015 Leon Knox, 88, of Saddlebrooke and Oro Valley, AZ passed away March 14, 2015. Leon was born July 26, 1926 in McAllaster, KS and as a youngster his family moved to the mountain of Gunnison, CO. Raised on a ranch he gained a love of the outdoors and life long enjoyment of hunting and fishing. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the US Navy and served out the last few months of WWII aboard the cruiser USS Columbia. After discharge from the Navy he returned to Colorado to marry his high school sweetheart and lifelong companion of 68 years, Maxine. They moved to Boulder, CO to attend and graduate from the University of Colorado. At graduation he embarked on a 30 year career as a teacher and education administrator beginning first in Hot Sulpher Springs, CO, then Fruita, CO and lastly spending most of his career in Colorado Springs, CO. During this time, he continued graduate education at University of California, Berkeley, University of Oklahoma, and achieved his Masters degree from Western State College. After retirement he moved to Arizona in 1986 to enjoy sun, golf and casinos. Leon never met a stranger and and made many friends who have stayed in constant touch, for some, even after 60 years. His outgoing personality made him a strong choice for leadership roles in education and civic organizations and served as president of the Western Colorado Education Association and Rotary Club. As a father and mentor of his two sons Bill and Bob he spent countless hours coaching athletics and sitting on bleacher benches encouraging and consoling. He also taught invaluable skills he learned from his experiences as a young rancher to the years of doing everything from building houses and steel buildings to prospecting for uranium for the Atomic Energy Commission. As a devoted grandfather he passed on his love for the outdoors and a flair for the mischief. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Viola, and sister Levon all of Gunnison, CO. He is survived by his loving wife Maxine, sons Robert and wife Judy Knox of Tucson, William and wife Mary Ann Knox (Conover,NC); grandchildren Scott and Jennifer of Tucson, Cindy (Aurora,IL), Heather (Lompoc,CA), Rick(Gaithersberg,MD) and Scott (Indianapolis,IN); 9 great-grandchildren; many nephew and nieces. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm Wednesday March 18,2015 at Vistoso Funeral Home. Burial will be in Gunnison, CO at 1:00 pm Saturday March 21, 2015 at the Gunnison Cemetery.