of Harrison, AR

December 5, 1956 - November 16, 2023

Leonard Houston McElroy, age 66, of Harrison, died Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was born December 5, 1956, in Marshall, Arkansas, the son of Leonard W. and Cozette Ena (Ruff) McElroy. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, Jimmy Felts; his niece, Tanya Bush; his father-in-law, Thomas Von Foresee and his brother-in-law, Garry Foresee.

He is survived by his wife, Judy (Foresee) McElroy; his son and favorite daughter-in-law, Tyler and Kristy (Beaver) McElroy; three granddaughters, "Sugar Pop" Ollie Leah McElroy, "Punkin" Emma Grace McElroy and "Shorty" Lena Cozette McElroy, all whom he loved dearly.

He is also survived by his sisters, Deanna Felts, Lavina Grandon and husband, Lester and Sandy Collins and husband, Homer; his mother-in-law, Loretta Stackhouse Foresee; his brothers-in-law, Mark E. Foresee and wife, Doris, Dwayne Foresee and Karen Foresee; his uncle, Bob Ruff and wife, Linda and all his nieces, nephews and cousins too numerous to list.

Houston had worked the family farm with his parents while attending Valley Springs School. He attended C of O College and NAC until he needed to help his parents full-time with the farm. He then went to work for AP&L for 17 years. In April of 1978, he met Judy Foresee. He was shocked that she knew about fox hunting and several dates were spent listening to the dogs run. He married her on September 3, 1978, and together they worked to build their lives, in 1986 they welcomed their son, Tyler. Houston was so happy to have a son to hunt with and show him all the things his parents taught him; from hunting and showing foxhounds to showing cattle in 4-H, to baseball. Family traditions, decorations, and the food he cooked for holidays, he loved every minute. When his job at AP&L ended, he received his welding certificate and also drove a bus for Valley Springs School. He went on to work for Johnson Plastics; Cattlemen's Livestock Auction and the fertilizer and feed store. He also worked for Pace Industries until he retired in September of 2022. He was so excited to judge field trials with Walter McElroy and the rest of the guys; the people he was meeting and he loved them all. He couldn't wait for Judy to retire and go with him.

The most important part of Houston's life was his faith journey. He was saved at a young age and had talked about preaching at one point. He loved the Lord and as everyone knows, sometimes the seasons change, "the how come this, the why that," questions. All through his life Houston would touch someone's life and they his. A group of men he worked with at Pace had morning prayer meetings, strengthening and encouraging each other. When going to the field trials, he met men who preached and encouraged each other; then his sisters and family, meeting and praying for each other and the issues each was going through. He started writing Facebook posts on February 26, 2023, each morning encouraging people until his last post on Sunday, November 12, 2023. He said it took him two hours to type. He pointed at letters for us to spell out sentences and he told us before he left, ''I am saved, I have already won." He was ready.



Visitation was on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at Roller-Christeson Funeral Home.

The graveside service was on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at Silver Hill Cemetery.

Family and friends served as pallbearers.

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