Leonard Moffett

(From Parker Mortuary)

On Tuesday, January 31, Leonard Russell Moffett, age 94, passed away in Joplin. Leonard was born in Neosho, Missouri on October 3, 1928, to Lillian Coffman Moffett and Clyde Moffett. He graduated from Neosho High School in 1946. He was a member of the Student Council, football team, basketball team, lettermen’s club, men’s glee club and band.

At 20 years of age, he entered the United States Army. While serving in Korea, he was seriously wounded and was awarded the Purple Heart. Returning home, he worked in several occupations, while pursuing his passion as a gifted musician (bass, piano, drums and vocals) playing in various bands including a time with jazz pianist Jay McShann.

Throughout his life, he has been an avid sportsman, enjoying fishing, golf and billiards. He enjoyed belonging to the Joplin Senior Center, served on their board and won several trophies on the senior billiards circuit around the area. He was a devoted fan of the St Louis Cardinals.

In the late 1970’s he gave his life to Christ, which became his primary focus. In 1979, he married Kathleen Watkins, and they enjoyed a 35-year marriage of ministry and music until she passed away in 2014.

As ordained ministers, he and Kathy served together as pastors of Countryside Pentecostal Holiness Church in Wichita, Kansas, as well as other ministries. Leonard was a mentor to many young people, forming relationships that lasted for the rest of his life.

In 1991, he and Kathy moved to Joplin to care for her father, Charlie Watkins. Leonard was a devoted caregiver to Charlie. He and Kathy continued to share their lives with the local church community.

Since 2019, he has resided in assisted living at Foxberry Terrace in Webb City.








While the list above gives a sense of the course of Leonard’s life, more important to know are the passion, enthusiasm and love with which he lived it, and the profound and loving effect he had on so many.

Leonard is survived by sister-in-law, Mary Blankenship, of Salem, Oregon, brothers Charles “Bud” Fullerton and Don (Tonia) Moffett of Granby, Missouri, cousin Bill Starns of Roseburg, Oregon, foster sister Imo Sharman of Carlsbad, California, and beloved friends and companions Joe Charleston of Tulsa, Oklahoma, David Pizinger and Regina Sorensen of the Joplin area.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Parker Mortuary in Joplin with burial to follow with military honors at Osborne Cemetery in Joplin. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation on Monday, February 6th beginning at 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Parker Mortuary in Joplin. Memorial contributions may be made to Watered Gardens or to the Glorious Church in memory of Leonard and may be entrusted to the mortuary.