Leon James Vassar

Leon James Vassar, 85, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 9, 2024. Leon is preceded in death by his mom Margaret Baldowsky and daughter Elizabeth Ballesteros. He is survived by his wife Sonia Vassar and their children, Sylvia (Dan) Poole, Leon (Kelly) Vassar, Maria Christina Cazares, Betty (Tomas) Barba, Tony (Hila) Vassar, their 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Also survived by 3 sisters, and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Leon was born on August 29, 1939, to Donald Vassar and Margaret Baldowsky, but raised by Margaret and Edwin Baldowsky in Elk River, Minnesota. He served in the Navy where he met his beloved wife, Sonia Vassar and had six children. They resided in Minnesota before moving to Arizona in 1977. He eventually worked at Sulfur Springs in Benson, Arizona in 1980 as a Lineman. He spent his years in Benson where he and his wife raised three of their grandchildren: Neah Layno, Nachelle Peña and Julia Layno-Rojas. He loved spending time with his family and friends and enjoyed “yard sale-ing” on the weekends. He lived a full life and had a story for every occasion, which he enjoyed telling any and all who would listen. He was a wealth of knowledge and a jack of all trades. He spent his days after work in the yard working on something or tending to his garden or birds. He was a great provider and a true patriarch of the family. He will be sorely missed, but we hold him in our hearts through all the wonderful memories.

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