Leonard John "Crip" Artis Sr.

2 Timothy 4:7- I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Funeral services for Mr. Leonard John "Crip" Artis, Sr. will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at St. John Baptist Church, Kinder, with Minister Scottie Artis officiating. Interment will follow in St. John Cemetery, Kinder, under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Oakdale, LA.
Leonard John Artis, Sr., better known as "Crip," entered into eternal rest on July 26, 2025, at Allen Parish Hospital, Kinder, LA, surrounded in love by family and friends.
Leonard "Crip" was born on November 16, 1948, in Kinder, LA, to the late Roy and Lessie Artis. He was baptized on December 11, 1948, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Elton, LA, and completed his first confirmation on October 24, 1964, at St. Joan of Arc in Oberlin, LA. He attended Lincoln Jr. High in Beaumont, Texas, before he and his family later moved to Kinder, LA, where he attended Carver High School, and afterwards moving to Oberlin, LA, where he attended Adams High.
Leonard entered the workforce at the age of 13, where he began by fixing flowerbeds, mowing grass, and building whatnot shelves. It was at this early age that Leonard developed a passion for carpentry, as he would say, "he had a thang for numbers." By the age of 15, Leonard remodeled his first home under the disguise of an older local man that represented him in order to bid on the job. His disguise was later uncovered by the neighbor who watched him work day in and day out, while his "representative" was asleep under the tree. Crip stated that she didn't "blow his cover," but instead brought him cookies and juice and inspected his work daily, praising him for an amazing job at such a young age. As he grew older, he worked at several wood mills as a scaffold builder, including Boise Cascade, and was a trackman on the railroad for a period of time. Crip was a man of many talents, but carpentry was his passion. He left the workforce to become his own boss and started Artis Construction. He built and remodeled homes from the east coast to the west coast. He was known for his work everywhere he went and was one of the most sought-after contractors/carpenters until he officially retired in 2018. He would come out of retirement when his "baby girl" would call and say, "Boog, I have a project for us" or someone from the community had a "little job" for him to do. In the end, the job was never "little" and "baby girl" did all the lifting! Boog loved hanging out and cooking with his "baby" Evelyn Henry, playing a good hand of poker with the fellas, and Boog definitely had an affinity for the casino, even though he was keen on the idea that nobody, but the people from Texas, wins the big money! That never stopped Boog from trying as he would say, "nothing beats failure, but a try!" and "nothing comes to a sleeper, but a dream." In the end, his own quote would come back to bite him after his failed attempts at the "the big money" would leave him "crying in the streets like a mule eating briar!" Boog will be missed by many!
He leaves to cherish his memories one son, Leonard John Artis, Jr. "Lil John", of Baytown, Texas; one daughter, Ashley Artis Martin "Baby Girl", of Oberlin; five grandchildren, DeJon Artis, KeShon Artis, Ashley Artis, Brooklyn Fontenot, and Bryce Thomas; three brothers, Olan Artis, Ray Artis (Jessica), and Donald Artis (Joycelyn); two sisters, Odella Bob and Ella Mae Ceasar; two godchildren, Cassandra Guillory and Katrina Guidry; a special cousin, Evelyn Henry; and a host of aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jo Annie Artis; one daughter, Lawanda Artis; his parents, Roy and Lessie Artis; one brother, McKinley Richard; and one sister, Retha Chenevert.
A time of visitation will be held at St. John Baptist Church, Kinder, on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are: Brian Artis, Michael Ceasar, Jessie Jones, Damon Charles, Phillip Guillory, Reginald Williams, Jermaine Henderson, and Kenneth Chenevert. Honorary pallbearers will be Arthur Lee Artis, Ray Artis, Tyron Fontenot, Greg Guillory, Todd Guillory, Olan Artis, Jason Artis, Donald James Artis, Swiney Ceaser, Jr., and Quentin Martin.
Friends may post online messages of condolences for the Artis family by visiting www.rushfh.com