Deaths
Leon Bidez Catlett III, 40, of Little Rock, Ark., died Nov. 29 at Harris Methodist Hospital in Dallas.
A friend to many and a dedicated volunteer to numerous organizations, Catlett devoted the last four years of his life to the service of others. Known for the ever-present smile on his face, he treasured his immediate family and the countless friends that made up his extended family.
He will be remembered for his passion and unconditional commitment to non-profit organizations. During the last years of his life, he held several leadership positions, serving as vice chair and board member of Legacy Counseling Center and Legacy Founders Cottage; volunteering at Resource Center Dallas, AIDS Interfaith Network and Kidscape Foundation, and serving on the Ryan White Planning Council.
Catlett is survived by his parents, Leon B. Catlett II and wife, Roxanne of Little Rock, and Carol B. Furo Fisher and husband, Kenneth of Plano; his brothers, C. Cori Catlett and wife, Christy, and Aaron Fisher, both of Little Rock; sisters, Kasey Fisher of Dallas and Marcia Catlett Goodloe of Little Rock; grandmother, Betty Butler and husband, Houston, of Searcy, Ark.; grandfather, Sammy Furo and wife, Kay, of Hot Springs, Ark.; grandfather, Bobby Dean Hughes of Jacksonville, Ark.; aunts and uncles, Alix Matthews and husband James P., Betty Pullam and husband Joe, Dorsey De Salvo and husband Mark, Amy Furo Horner and husband Chris, Tricia Furo Leovich and her son Parker D. Leovich, Renee Nolen and husband Ronald, Rhonda Turner and husband Andrew, Sam Furo and Adam Furo; cousins, Liz New and husband Chris, Jay Pullam, Catherine Curran, Joe Matthews, James Matthews, Helen Matthews, Nicholas De Salvo, Alix Matteson and husband George, Sara Smith and husband Will, Ben Bond, Walter Catlett and wife Suzanne, Michael Catlett and Robert Catlett; and niece Bryce Holland Goodloe and nephew Tosh Chiles Goodloe, in addition to numerous close friends including Gretchen Kelly, Steven Weir, Tony Key, Don Gaiser David Andrews.
Catlett was interred at Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle, Ark., on Dec. 5.
A celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. at eM — The Venue, Suite C, 1500 Dragon Street in Dallas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Resource Center Dallas Hot Meals Program/Food Pantry and Legacy Founders Cottage.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition December 9, 2011.
Leon , We will all miss you my friend may God Bless You for all the work you did in the Aids programs here in Dallas, I will miss your smile and your voice and how happy you were everyday, You made point of talking to everyone in the program as they were your family, You will be in my heart forever my friend. May you rest in peace. sg
Leon, I will miss our walks around the neighborhood and our countless talks while together. You were such a shining light to so many, I can’t believe you are really gone. May you continue to look over us all as you did while on this earth with us. Rest in Peace Dear Soul. I Love You, Scotty J
Leon, Sometimes, an Angel touches your life and leaves thier impression in your memory that will always be a bright light reminding you of thier radiating love.
That is who you are, and forever shall be to us.
God must have needed another Angel this holiday season, Rest in peace, you will forever be loved and missed