Obituaries

James Leo Cristee

Photo of James Leo Cristee
James Leo Cristee was born March 22nd, 1924 in Rudy, Ark., and passed peacefully surrounded by family Thursday Feb. 5th, 2015 in Bentonville, Arkansas. After graduating high school from Alma, AR in 1942, he was drafted to serve with the US Navy during WWII. He served his time state-side at the Alameda Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. Upon returning home at war's end, Leo met and married the love of his life, Rudy Schoeppe of Mountainburg, Arkansas, in 1946. Shortly after they married, they moved to Anaheim, California for a short time before returning to Mountainburg, Arkansas, where Leo began a 38-year career with the City of Fort Smith as the Water Purification Superintendent at the water filtration plant in Mountainburg. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Edna (Pinson) Cristee. He was also preceded in death by his sister Wanda Gregg also of Fort Smith. Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at Ocker Funeral Home of Alma. Cremation is under the direction of Ocker Funeral Home of Alma. The family will visit with friends following the memorial service at Ocker Funeral Home of Alma, 917 Hwy. 64 East, Alma, Ark. Leo is survived by his wife Rudy of 67 years and his three children - Carolyn Whitsell of Bentonville, Ark., Randy Cristee of Rogers, Ark., and Tony Cristee of Bella Vista, Ark. Leo's grandchildren were very special to him. They include Rick Patterson and his wife Beth of Van Buren, Casey Cristee and her husband Tim Gawthrop of Fayetteville, Ark., and Alex Cristee and his wife Shelly of Jonesboro, Ark. He has three great-grandchildren - Logan & Hanna Patterson, and Londyn Cristee. He is also survived by two sisters, Thelma Carter and Gladys Whittenburg both of Fort Smith. In lieu of flowers the family request memorials be made to: Food Pantry of Mountainburg Presbyterian Church 1407 Hwy. 71 NE, Mountainburg, Ark. 72746 or American Diabetic Association, 1730 SE Moberly Lane, Bentonville, Ark. 72712. To place an online tribute please visit www.ockerfuneralhome.com.

Published February 10, 2015

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