Don Garrett Leo

Don Garrett Leo died and went to be with the Lord on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2024, at about 3:45 PM.  

Don was born May 1, 1934, in Cleveland, OH, the only child of Ralph and Muriel Leo. He attended Cleveland Heights High School and earned a BA at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH, a MSEE at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA and MDIV at Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

Don was a career Navy man, enlisting in 1952 and retiring as a LCDR in 1980. He served aboard the USS Hassayampa AO145, USS Chemung AO30, USS Benner DD807, USS Edward McDowell DE1043 and USS Mars AFS-1. He served as a River Assault Group Advisor in Vietnam earning the Bronze Star and numerous other medals.

Following his graduation from Emory, Don Served as a United Methodist pastor at Weslyanna UMC and Monterey UMC in Star, MS. Highland UMC in Meridian, MS, and the Choctaw Mission in Philadelphia, MS. He retired in June 1991 and went to work for Ingalls Shipbuilding as a Senior Engineer in the PSA group, retiring in 1998.  Shortly thereafter he began work with BAE Systems where he worked until retiring in 2010.

Don was very active in AA and AA prison ministry/prison fellowship.  He was a member of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.  He so loved riding his motorcycles and trike. He was a carpenter and loved working in his shop with his hands to make anything he could for his friends and church family.  He was also very active in his church, Wesley UMC in Ocean Springs, MS.

Don was preceded in death by his son, Kevin Garrett Leo.

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Leo; daughters, Bethany Leo of Fort Worth, TX, Susan Hughes of Litchfield, OH, and Jennifer Leo of Ocean Springs, MS; and grandchildren, Violet and Chris Johnson, Hannah, Hailey and James Hughes, Shannon Finnical, and Caitlyn Leo.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Ocean Springs UMC, 8900 Old Spanish Trail, on March 9, 2024, at 1:00PM, with visitation starting at 12:00PM.

Donations to OSUMC in lieu of flowers would be appreciated. 

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Don Leo.