John Leonard Yellow Eagle Jr. passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at a nursing home in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, at the age of 78. Leonard was born on May 7, 1946, in Clinton, Oklahoma, to Leonard and Abbie (Big Bear) Yellow Eagle Sr.

Raised in Weatherford, Leonard attended grade school there and at Concho, Oklahoma, and graduated from Chilocco Indian School in Newkirk, Oklahoma. He later pursued further education at a community college in Memphis, Tennessee, earning a degree in counseling. In his younger years, he also trained as a welder, a skill he was proud to have mastered.

A proud member of the Native American Church, Leonard was deeply connected to his cultural heritage.

He loved participating in ceremo-nial activities with his tribe, attending powwows, and Gourd dancing. He was known for his lively spirit, his love of laughter, and his joy in visiting friends and family. Leonard also enjoyed trips to the casino, where he found happiness and camaraderie.

Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Rufus Yellow Eagle, Delos Yellow Eagle, and Andrew Yellow Eagle; his sisters, Ida Burns, Minnie Yellow Eagle, Beulah Penn, Flora Reuben, and Rose Wassana; as well as many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

He is survived by a large circle of relatives and friends who will forever cherish his memory and mourn his passing.

A traditional wake will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Clinton Emergency Resource Center (ERC). Funeral services will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Life fellowship Church in Weatherford, Oklahoma, officiated by Gerald Panana, and Delfred “Bunny” Whitecrow Jr. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Lee Hometown Funeral Home in Clinton.

Leonard’s legacy of love, laughter, and cultural pride will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.