James Leon Mizell

James Leon Mizell, 81, was born January 2, 1931 and went to be with the Lord on April 22, 2012. Leon was born on Tarkington Prairie to Stanley and Clara Purswell Mizell. After graduating from high school in May of 1949, Leon went into the Air Force and was in the Military Police from 1951 to 1952. He was stationed on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio where one of his duties were to escort POWs on an Air Force cargo planes to Leavenworth, Kansas. After his Air Force days, he went to work at Eastern States Refinery on the Houston ship channel. This refinery changed to Signal Oil and Gas and eventually Hill Petroleum where he retired in January, 1995. He loved to tell about the pranks all the guys played on one another over the years. Leon was a loving and devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. His grandchildren lovingly called him Papa. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and planting vegetable gardens every year. He also loved coaching both of his sons in little league Baseball. Most Importantly, Leon was a Christian who loved gospel singing and telling others about the Lord. Last year after his 80th birthday when he really started to suffer ill health, he got in touch with an old Air Force buddy he had not seen since those military days. In one of the first letters that he wrote to his friend he asked him, “Do you know the Lord?” The response wasn’t what he had hoped for, but he had planted a seed. Leon is survived by his loving wife of sixteen and a half years, Marilyn Joyce Whatley Mizell; daughter and son-in-law Sherry and Mark Hlanak of Coldspring; sons and daughters-in-law Randall and Tammy Mizell of Crosby and Steven and Joy Mizell of Seabrook; stepson Brad Whatley and wife Suzanne of Sugarland; brothers and sisters-in-law Thomas and Peggy Mizell of Cleveland, and Buford and Lyndell Mizell of Cleveland; sister and brother-in-law Wanda and Alan Lewing of Houston; grandchildren Casey Hlanak Radomski and husband Richard Radomski, Kerry Hlanak, Kristin Mizell, Kaya Mizell Baez and husband Raul Baez and Joseph Mizell; step-granddaughters Maddie and Abbey Whatley; and seven nieces and nephews. Leon was also blessed with his first great grandchild in 2010, Lorelei Rose Radomski. In addition to his parents, Leon was preceded in death by an infant brother, Billy Joe and an infant sister, Helen Frances. Also preceding him in death was his loving wife of 40 years, Mary Frances Calhoun Mizell. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 5:00-9:00 p.m. at Pace Stancil Funeral Home, Cleveland, Texas. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at Oak Shade Baptist Church, Cleveland, Texas, with interment at Boothe Cemetery, Cleveland, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 2400 Augusta Dr., Ste. 252, Houston, TX 77057 or call (713) 952-5499.