Leroy A. Nearhood

1935 - 2024

LeRoy A. Nearhood, 88, of Philipsburg, went to be with his Heavenly Father, January 21, 2024.

He was born in Kylertown on April 11, 1935 to William H. and Ethel (Lucas) Nearhood and graduated from Cooper High School in 1953.

He married Janet Sones on June 8, 1957 in Kylertown, and they had 66 years together. Janet survives along with two sons, Terry (Laura) Nearhood and Rodney (Heather Nearhood and two daughters, Vicki (Elwood) Quick and Krista Nearhood.

Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Tyler (Courtney) Quick, Jaime (Wesley) Boyd, Joshua (Carmella) Quick, Kelly (Jason) Wimmer, Derik Nearhood (Fiancé Abbey Homan), Dylan Nearhood (Companion Morgan Stimely), Breanne Nearhood (Fiancé Daniel Pritchard), and Clay (Kiera) Nearhood, and a special great-grandchild Maxwell Boyd.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Elizabeth Yontos and Alice Schmidt and five brothers, Earl, Floyd, Russell, Robert, and Ray Nearhood. He was the last of his generation.

For the Cooper High School Baseball Team, he played center field and for the Kylertown Team of the Black Diamond League he played first base, center, and left field.

LeRoy served in the U.S. Army 1958-1961 as a Radar Operator at Nike Hercules Missile Site on Grand Island, N.Y. protecting the Niagara Frontier.

He accepted Jesus as his personal Savior at an early age and served the Lord throughout his lifetime on Deacon Boards, Pulpit Committees, Missions Committees, Awana Club, VBS, taught Bible Studies, sang in choirs, quartets, and men's groups, and drove the church bus. He began the Community Bible Church in his basement and helped in building the Lanse Evangelical Free Church.

He worked as a Drill Operator in Strip Mining for Stott Coal Co. and Valli Industries and was employed as a Parts Analyst at HRB/Raytheon in State College from where he retired.

He built a wood shop where he created/constructed many beautiful pieces, He learned all phases of building houses and garages, loved to garden, enjoyed doing jigsaw, crossword and word-find puzzles and was an avid bird-watcher and reader.

Family and friends will be received at Lanse Evangelical Free Church on Saturday, January 27, 2024 from 11:00 to Noon followed by a celebration of his life at Noon with Pastor Matt Mitchell officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by the American Legion, Post 437 Honor Guard, Philipsburg. Interment will be at Messiah Baptist Cemetery in Lanse.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of LeRoy to, Camp Kanesatake, PO Box 11, Spruce Creek, PA 16683, or Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), 539 Jacksonville Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Both are places where young children and teenagers are infiltrated with the Word of God and how to live a real Christian life with Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Strange & Weaver Funeral Service, Morrisdale, is in charge of the arrangements.