Leon South, 69, of Lithia, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026, surrounded by his loving sons.
Leon was born on July 3, 1956, in Peoria, Illinois, to Otis South and Lorene Burton. After finishing high school in 1973, Leon enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17, serving initially as a Boatswain's Mate. He later cross-trained as a Navy Seabee, ultimately achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer (E-7). Leon served honorably for 20 years before retiring from the Navy in 1993.
Following his military career, Leon spent the next 28 years traveling the world managing multi-million-dollar construction projects across the defense, healthcare, and critical infrastructure industries. During this time, he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees, obtained numerous professional certifications, and built a reputation as a highly skilled, dependable leader who always got the job done.
Leon was a kind, generous, and larger-than-life man. He loved cooking out with family and friends, watching and coaching his sons' sporting events, and spending time on or near the water. He was known for breaking bricks and cinder blocks with his bare hands and for sharing laughter and beverages with his Navy and construction buddies.
Though Leon's health and quality of life declined in his later years, his final weeks stood as a testament to God's love, God's power to redeem what is broken, and God's promise of eternal life in heaven.
Leon is survived by his sons, Steven South and his wife Kelly South, and Shawn South and his wife Shelly South; his four grandchildren, Kalei South, Alice South, Steven South, and Matthew South; and his brothers, Daniel South and his wife Winn South, and Thomas South and his husband Pat Burnett.
Leon's wishes were to be cremated and have his ashes buried at sea by the United States Navy. His family is honoring those wishes and is currently working with the Navy's Burial at Sea Program to carry them out in the near future. A service will be held at a later date to fulfill Leon's wishes, with details to be announced by the family.
In lieu of memorial donations, Leon's family asks that friends and loved ones take time to reconcile relationships, renew their faith, and/or take the first step toward sobriety if they are struggling with addiction.
Family and old friends who wish to contact the family may do so at [email protected].
Leon was born on July 3, 1956, in Peoria, Illinois, to Otis South and Lorene Burton. After finishing high school in 1973, Leon enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 17, serving initially as a Boatswain's Mate. He later cross-trained as a Navy Seabee, ultimately achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer (E-7). Leon served honorably for 20 years before retiring from the Navy in 1993.
Following his military career, Leon spent the next 28 years traveling the world managing multi-million-dollar construction projects across the defense, healthcare, and critical infrastructure industries. During this time, he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees, obtained numerous professional certifications, and built a reputation as a highly skilled, dependable leader who always got the job done.
Leon was a kind, generous, and larger-than-life man. He loved cooking out with family and friends, watching and coaching his sons' sporting events, and spending time on or near the water. He was known for breaking bricks and cinder blocks with his bare hands and for sharing laughter and beverages with his Navy and construction buddies.
Though Leon's health and quality of life declined in his later years, his final weeks stood as a testament to God's love, God's power to redeem what is broken, and God's promise of eternal life in heaven.
Leon is survived by his sons, Steven South and his wife Kelly South, and Shawn South and his wife Shelly South; his four grandchildren, Kalei South, Alice South, Steven South, and Matthew South; and his brothers, Daniel South and his wife Winn South, and Thomas South and his husband Pat Burnett.
Leon's wishes were to be cremated and have his ashes buried at sea by the United States Navy. His family is honoring those wishes and is currently working with the Navy's Burial at Sea Program to carry them out in the near future. A service will be held at a later date to fulfill Leon's wishes, with details to be announced by the family.
In lieu of memorial donations, Leon's family asks that friends and loved ones take time to reconcile relationships, renew their faith, and/or take the first step toward sobriety if they are struggling with addiction.
Family and old friends who wish to contact the family may do so at [email protected].
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leon South, please visit our flower store.
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