Leon Eugene Magers

Services will be held Saturday, February 14 at 11 a.m. at Rosser Funeral Home for L.E. "Buddy" Magers, 93, of Cleburne, who went home to the Lord on January 23, 2026. He will be remembered by family and friends alike for his outgoing and welcoming spirit, integrity, and strength.

He was born May 28, 1932 in Sherman, Texas to Leon Frank and Emma (O'Brien) Magers. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Gary and Lisa Magers, and daughter and son-in-law Elaine and Bob Lewis, all of Cleburne; granddaughter Joy (Magers) Cooke and husband, Ryan, of Grand Prairie and grandsons Jeremy Lewis and wife, Jill, of Flower Mound, Aaron Lewis and wife, Andrea, of Celina, Jesse Magers and wife, Yazmin, of Grand Prairie, Taylor Magers and wife, Ludmila, Mason Magers and wife, Brinlee, and Preston Magers and wife, Vannah Vanlandingham, and their mother LeighAnn Magers, all of Tyler, and eleven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Mildred Brock Magers, and sons Kyle Magers and Brien Magers, and his sister, Lou Magers Buckaloo.

He spent his childhood in San Antonio, before his family moved to El Paso when he was a junior in high school. They arrived in El Paso on a Wednesday, and went to church the following Sunday, where he met the girl who would become his high school sweetheart and true love for life. In 1951 they were married in the church where they first met. Their marriage was built on a foundation of faith in Christ and the Word of God.

He attended Texas Western College before entering the U.S. Army in 1952, completing basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas. He credited his knowledge and experiences as a member of Junior Yanks of America and high school ROTC in his success in getting into Officer Candidate School at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. He graduated as a Second Lieutenant, Anti-Aircraft Artillery. He spent 13 months in Korea and received an Honorable Discharge in 1961 at the rank of First Lieutenant.

He spent 21 years in El Paso's garment industry, the majority as vice-president of manufacturing with Mann Manufacturing Company. He would embark on his second career in 1977 with a move to Cleburne, where he started a construction company which was in operation through 1989.

Not ready for retirement, Buddy's skills as a craftsman and Mildred's creative talents were combined in the formation of Sonlife Crafts, with their folk art featured in craft malls across Dallas/FortWorth.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Cleburne.

He was the true patriarch of our family. We sought and valued his wisdom, thoughts, and opinions. His word was his bond; his sense of humor endeared him to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In a self-written narrative, stemming from a passion for genealogy and family history, he summed up his years in stating, "My life has been complete, I have a wonderful family, I have accomplished a lot and I am still married to the love of my life, 72 years later."

He hath shown thee, o Man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

A family graveside service will be conducted at Rosehill Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 414 N. Main, Cleburne, TX 76033 or Field Street Baptist Church, 201 N. Field Street, Cleburne, TX 76033.