Edwin Leon Roof

Edwin Leon Roof

Edwin Leon Roof passed away at Putnam County Memorial Hospital on Saturday, January 16, 2010. He and his wife, Polly, had spent the last few months at the Putnam County Care Center.
Leon was born on January 19, 1925, on the family farm near Lemons, MO. He was the second born and oldest son of Deward and Letha (Hackney) Roof. He attended Grant Grade School and graduated from Lemons High School in 1942. He played basketball, baseball, and ran track.
After high school, Leon worked for area farmers before working at the Unionville Granite Works. Then he started his own farming operations including livestock and row crops.
On June 21, 1946, Leon married Pauline “Polly” Crouse. This union was blessed with two sons.
Leon was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed watching and listening to the Putnam County Midgets, Missouri Tigers, and his all-time favorite, The St. Louis Cardinals. He was honored to serve as the Putnam County Homecoming Grand Marshall. He also loved to coyote and coon hunt, fish, and play cards. His greatest joy was his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately called him Pappy.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Polly; two sons, Carroll (Jeneen) Roof and Ronny (Linda) Roof, both of Unionville, MO. Also surviving are his granddaughters, Angie (Roger) O’Reilly of Unionville; Debbie (Todd) McCubbin of Columbia, MO; Mendi (Mike) Rathgeb of Edwardsville, IL; and Kristen (Craig) Liesen of Quincy, IL. Surviving great-grandchildren are Sydney, Tori, and Trey O’Reilly; Avery, Mya, and Tate McCubbin; Logan, Livia, Gabby, and Greyson Rathgeb; and Chloe and Courtney Liesen.
Also surviving are his brother, Basil (Wanda) Roof of Lemons and his sisters-in-law: Betty Roof; Valee Roof; Mary Roof Smith; and Mary Roof all of Unionville; and Irene Roof Springer of Centerville, IA, and Rosemary Roof of Kahoka, MO; and one brother-in-law, Hallie Alexander of Unionville. He is also survived by Polly’s family whom he considered his own: Doris Parsons; Elaine Crouse; Bonnie (Earl) Robinson; Gary (Linda) Crouse; Carolyn (Jim) Grimes; and Sandra (Jerry) Crawford. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers: Melvin, Clifford, Robert, Wayne, and Ronald Roof; and sisters: Cleta Alexander and Phyllis Kelly and her husband, James. Also preceding him in death were brothers-in-law: Kenneth Crouse, Galen Crouse, and Eldon Parsons; his niece, Roberta Lynn Roof; a nephew, Todd Grimes; and a step-mother, Lucy Roof.
Funeral services for Leon Roof will be at Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 10:30 am on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. Pastor Gene Weece will officiate the service with a eulogy given by Carolyn Roof. Casket bearers will be Stanley Alexander, Darwin Alexander, Curtis Roof, Roger Roof, Danny Roof, Rodney Roof, Richard Roof, Dale Roof, Jeff Roof, Larry Roof, Jerry Roof, Randall Kelly, and Dennis Kelly. Honorary casket bearers will be Steve Parsons, Randall Crouse, Kendall Crouse, Brian Crouse, Brent Robinson, David Crouse, Doug Crouse, Troy Grimes, and Chad Crawford. Interment will be in the Lemons Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Putnam County Care Center or Lemons Cemetery and may be entrusted to the funeral home.