Leonard F. Stuart

Leonard F. Stuart

Leonard F. Stuart, 85, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Stuart was born Nov. 1, 1925, in Havre, Mont., to the late Hattie Ann Behrends and Charles Leonard Stuart.

Mr. Stuart graduated from Havre High School, Northern Montana College and Asbury College. He also completed a hospital administrator's course at the University of Alabama.

He was manager of Vita-Rich Dairy in Havre for 14 years and was lay associate pastor of First Methodist Church in Yuba City, Calif., before becoming a missionary. He served as field treasurer for the United Methodist Church in the Congo, and hospital administrator at Phebe Hospital in Liberia, in West Africa.

After returning from Africa, he was assistant director of Redwood Christian Park in Boulder, Calif., and served as development director of McCurdy School in Espanola, N.M., hospital administrator at Red Bird Mission Hospital in Southeast, Ky., and development director for the Mission Society in Atlanta, Ga.

He also served his country in the U. S. Army Air Force in World War II.

Mr. Stuart and his wife, Marie, retired to Danville, Ky., in 1992. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Danville where he was involved in mission outreach, taught Sunday School and started a men's breakfast group.

Leonard is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marie E. Fanning Stuart; two daughters, Michaelyn Stuart of Lexington, Ky., and Patti Stuart of Montana; two grandchildren, Julie Coy Martinez and Michael Stuart, both of Lexington; and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Christian Life Center at Centenary United Methodist Church, Perryville Road, on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at 11 a. m., with the Rev. Dr. Quentin Scholtz and the Rev. Dr. Matthew Atha officiating.

A private committal service was held at Camp Nelson National Cemetery with military honors.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of Pruitt Sunday School Class and members of the Thursday Morning Men's Group.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Centenary United Methodist Church, Danville Ky., building fund, or Asbury University Wilmore, Ky.

A tribute wall is available for Leonard at http://www.preston-pruitt.com.