Leon Dale Best

Leon Dale Best
Leon Dale Best, 66, of Greenwood passed away Jan. 24, 2019, in his home. Dale was born June 8, 1952, in Long Beach, California, to the late Orlen Leon and Lauralei (Adams) Best.
Dale spent one year working for the FBI in Washington in the Fingerprint Analysis Unit. In 1972, Dale came back to Arkansas and worked as a telecommunications operator in Fort Smith. Dale worked there for four years before becoming a commissioned trooper for the Arkansas State Police in 1976. He retired from the Arkansas State Police after attaining the rank of major in 1998. In 2002, Dale joined the Drug Enforcement Agency as an intelligence analyst until 2006 when he left the DEA for medical reasons.
Dale is survived by his wife of 27 years, Georgette Best of Greenwood; four sons, Jonathan and wife Nikki Best of Rogers, Eric and wife Joanie Best of Barling, Robert Lewis of Waldron and Adam Best of Greenwood; three grandchildren, Paige and Wyatt Best both of Rogers and Reed Vinsant of Barling; one sister, Laura Cheesman and husband Larry of Greenwood; mother-in-law, Shirley Jo Martin of Waldron; one niece, Misty Cheesman; two nephews, Christopher Martin of Springfield, Missouri, and Jimmy Cheesman of Greenwood; and his best friend, his dog, Kandi.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Roy Best.
Memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday at Lewis Funeral Chapel, 4817 Kelley Highway, Fort Smith. Cremation will be under the direction of Martin Funeral Home in Mansfield.
Dale's family would like to extend a special thanks to the Arkansas State Police, Amedisys, Heart of Hospice, the Greenwood First Responders and EMT, Greenwood Police Department and Lewis Funeral Chapel for all their help.
Online condolences may be sent at www.martinfuneralhomes.com.