Leeland Johnston Golightley, born April 8, 1928, in Wellington, Kan., to Evaline Maude Lamb and John Albert Golightley, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 30, 2012, surrounded by his family.
Lee was a strong Christian example for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Lee served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952. He was stationed in Germany and was honorably discharged as a Corporal.
He taught Sunday School for many years and was “Grandpa” to most of the daycare children at the First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie.
After moving back to Mineral Wells, Lee served as a deacon in the church and worked with the Palo Pinto Baptist Association for many years. He began to promote Camp Copass in the 1970s and continued to support it as a member of the Board of Directors for the last 20 years.
Lee loved to square dance and they often traveled to different square dance clubs as well as dancing at nursing homes in the local area.
Lee started working with his Dad driving a truck when he was 15 years old. When his children started coming, he went to work with his Father-in-Law in the oil field. He worked for many years in the Panhandle of Texas on oil rigs throughout the area. Later, Lee supported his family with his talents as a mechanic in aviation, construction, and private vehicles. He was always willing to use those talents to help friends and those in need.
Leeland is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gwonda Golightley; and his children, Lela and Robert Evans, Bobby and Karen Golightley, Barbara Davidson, Kathy and Robert Bynum, Bryan and Kim Golightley, Brent Golightley, his brother, Earl Golightley, 15 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sisters, Opal Sorrels, and Elizabeth Shatswell.
Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 4, at 12 p.m. with services to follow at 1 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Mineral Wells. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Camp Copass Scholarship Fund for children who cannot afford to attend camp. Donations can be sent to Camp Copass, 8200 E. McKinney St., Denton, TX 76208-2025
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