LEONARD RAY MATTOX

OCTOBER 20, 1933   -   JUNE 9, 2019

2ND TIMOTHY 4:6,7,8

"OBITUARY"

LEONARD AND ROSE BOTH GREW UP IN THE BUCKEYE VALLEY AND BECAME HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART AT THE AGES OF 15 AND 17.  THEY MARRIED IN DECEMBER 1952 WHEN LIFE THEN SUDDENLY BECAME A WHIRLWIND AND CONTINUED TO PROVE TRUE  WITH NEVER A DULL MOMENT ALL DURING THEIR MARRIAGE UP TO THIS VERY POINT IN THEIR LIFE.

AS A YOUNG MAN, LEONARD WORKED ON HIS DAD'S COTTON FARM EARNING 75-CENTS AN HOUR.  FORTUNATELY, COFFEE WAS ONLY 45-CENTS A POUND AND GAS WAS ONLY 19-CENTS A GALLON!  FIVE MONTHS AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE, AT THE AGE OF 19, LEONARD WAS DRAFTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY DURING THE KOREAN WAR AND ROSE SERVED UNOFFICIALLY BY HIS SIDE ALL DURING HIS YEARS OF MILITARY SERVICE.  AT THE END OF HIS OFFICIAL MILITARY SERVICE, LEONARD HAD EARNED THE STATUS OF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS AND ROSE HAD BECOME A LEGAL SECRETARY!

IN 1960, LEONARD AND ROSE BOTH SURRENDERED TO GOD'S CALLING TO BECOME WHAT THEY LIKE TO REFER TO AS "FOOT-WASHERS" IN GOD''S SERVICE.  BOTH ATTENDED GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY IN PHOENIX AFTER WHICH LEONARD ENTERED SEMINARY TRAINING WITH THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN LOUISVILLE, KY.  HE LATER BECAME AN ORDAINED MINISTER AND BI-VOCATIONAL PASTOR (AS IT WAS KNOWN IN THOSE DAYS) SERVING IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHURCHES IN ARIZONA.

WHEN THE LORD CALLED LEONARD INTO THE MINISTRY IN 1960, HE BELIEVED HIS CALL WAS A UNIQUE CALL TO PASTOR SMALL CHURCHES THAT COULD NOT AFFORD A FULL-TIME PASTOR.  HE EXPRESSED IT AS A RICH AND REWARDING LIFE EXPERIENCE.  HE WAS LICENSED TO PREACH IN 1961 AND ORDAINED IN 1963 BY FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH IN BUCKEYE, ARIZONA.  LEONARD AND ROSE WERE A TEAM, AND THEIR ARIZONA PASTORATES WERE:

IN 1971, LEONARD WAS CALLED TO PASTOR FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH, HOCKLEY, TEXAS – ENLARGED SANCTUARY THREE TIMES, ADDED A LARGE SUNDAY SCHOOL BUILDING, FINALLY BUILT A NEW  SANCTUARY WITH SEATING CAPACITY OF 300;  DEBT FREE!

1986 – LEONARD WAS CALLED TO PASTOR WALNUT CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH, MAGNOLIA, TEXAS.  -  BUILT NEW SANCTUARY WITH SEATING CAPACITY FOR

IN 1978, LEONARD AND ROSE STARTED THEIR OWN BUSINESS WHICH ALLOWED THEM MORE FREEDOM TO DEVOTE TO THEIR ALREADY FULL-TIME MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH.

IN 1993, LEONARD AND ROSE BOTH BECAME CHURCH ACHIEVEMENT CONSULTANTS WITH THE BAPTIST GENERAL CONVENTION OF TEXAS SERVING 5 ASSOCIATIONS.  THEY LATER SERVED AS MISSION SERVICE CORPS VOLUNTEERS,  IN CRIMINAT JUSTICE, WHILE LEONARD AND ROSE CONTINUED TO SERVE AS PASTOR AND WIFE OF THEIR LOCAL CHURCH.  ONE OF THEIR GREATEST BLESSINGS WAS A TRIP TO ISRAEL AND A BOAT RIDE ON THE SEA OF GALILEE!

IN 2002, LEONARD RETIRED FROM FULL-TIME PASTORAL SERVICE; HOWEVER, THEY BOTH CONTINUED TO SERVE AS MSC VOLUNTEERS WITH THE NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD.   THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS A CHURCH IN SOUTH JORDAN, UTAH WHERE LEONARD SERVED AS INTERIM PASTOR; HE LOVED IT!  THEY WERE ABLE TO PARK THEIR TRAVEL TRAILER ON SITE, BOTH HE AND ROSE REJOICED TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE THERE WITH HOME MISSIONARIES, JACKIE AND NOVELLA MCCLUNG!

AFTER RETURNING HOME, LEONARD SERVED AS INTERIM PASTOR FOR SHIRO BAPTIST CHURCH IN SHIRO, TEXAS.  – THERE HE AND ROSE LED IN THE REFURBISHING OF THE SANCTUARY AND PARSONAGE, ADDING A NEW ROOF ON THE CHURCH BUILDING AND BEGAN A NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS!

IN 2004, THEY BUILT THEIR RETIREMENT HOME IN FRANKLIN,  WITH LEONARD DOING ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, PLUMBING, AND GAS LINES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE WHILE ROSE DID THE INSULATION AND SHEETROCK WITH HELP FROM A NEPHEW, AND WHATEVER ELSE LEONARD INSTRUCTED HER TO DO.  HE WAS THE "BOSS!'

ACTS 20:24

IN 2012, LEONARD AND ROSE BECAME VOLUNTEER HELPING HANDS AT SCOTT & WHITE CLIONIC IN COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS.  WHEN THE NEW (NOW BAYLOR) SCOTT & WHITE HOSPITAL OPENED IN 2013, LEONARD AND ROSE HEADED UP THE PASTORL CARE MINISTRY AS CHAPLAINS.  THEY SERVED UNTIL LEONARD'S HEALTH TOOK A TURN FOR A NEED OF GREATER ATTENTION.  THE CHAPLAIN MINISTRY BECAME THE LOVE OF LEONARD'S LIFE; SUCH WAS THE CASE WITH EVERY ENDEAVOR HE AND ROSE WERE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE.

JUNE 9, 2019, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SAID:  "LEONARD, IT'S TIME TO COME HOME NOW.  IT'S CLOSER TO MY HOUSE THAN TO YOUR EARTHLY HOME.  LEONARD KISSED ROSE GOODNIGHT AND DIDN'T LOOK BACK!  WHY?  BECAUSE, IT IS FAR BETTER TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY AND PRESENT WITH OUR LORD!  ROSE IS PLANNING ON A GRAND REUNION WHEN OUR LORD SAYS, "COME ON HOMNE ROSE; IT'S YOUR TIME NOW!"