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James Leonard Mowrey I, 72, was born in Commerce, Oklahoma, on May 30, 1951, to Oren Mowrey and Lorraine Harvey. At the age of 18, he married his high school sweetheart Sharon Bennett on Sept. 14, 1969. On the same day, they packed up and moved to Arizona so he could work at the Miami Inspiration Copper Mine. Leonard and Sharon were married for 54 years, and together they had two children: their son Jamie (Carbide) and their daughter Fancie. Leonard was well known around town as the “Volkswagen Guy.” That’s how he met a lot of his buddies, rebuilding VW motors and tinkering in the garage. He also enjoyed crappie fishing and hunting, but his favorite pastimes were pellet gun shooting with his friends, trailblazing in his RZR, rockhounding with granddaughter Amanda and listening to her endless stories of her adventures. Leonard was a kool kat with a heart of gold. He loved to help people in any way he could.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Sharon Mowrey, his daughter and son-in-law Fancie & Steve Alexander, his granddaughter and her husband Amanda Mowrey (Bizzie) & Rodrigo García Ortiz (Raccoon), his youngest granddaughter Madisyn (Little Buddy), his grandson and great-grandson Jacob & Adam Mowrey, his mother and brother Lorraine & Giles Harvey, and his womb-mate and twin sister Gwendy Thompson, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Leonard is preceded in death by his father Oren Mowrey, his stepfather Raymond Harvey, his brother Jack Mowrey, and his son Jamie Mowrey. Catch you in a while, Crocodile!
A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at the Central Heights Baptist Church, 5468 S. Apache Ave., Globe, Arizona.
Family is being assisted by Bulman Miles Funeral Services Globe.
