Leland Merle Alexander, age 91, passed away on March 25, 2023, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s. He was always a fighter, having survived a ruptured appendix, atomic bomb testing, polio, being struck by lightning, multiple falls resulting in broken bones and brain trauma. He never gave up and fought very hard until the very end.
Leland was born January 3, 1932. He was preceded in death by parents Earl & Mildred Alexander and grandson Jay Alexander.
Survivors include his wife Shirley; son Leland and wife Maria, granddaughter Kimberly; son Glenn and granddaughter Oria; son Greg and wife Sheila, granddaughter Brooke.
Leland was a leader. He was the class president his senior year at Maize High School. He made sergeant in the Army in two years. He was a drill sergeant and mountain climbing instructor in Colorado. He served on the Maize City Council and was the Mayor of Maize. He served on the Maize School Board, making it better for teachers and students.
Leland was born a country boy on a Maize farm, riding horses, milking cows and working hard. After his Army service, he worked hard in construction to provide for his family. He was comfortable in jeans and a cowboy hat or favorite cap. He loved his family, the American flag, and those who defended it. In his younger years, he refinished antique furniture. In his retirement years, he built lodge-pole pine furniture from Colorado logs. He loved the outdoors in Kansas and Colorado, hunting with his sons and grandson, fishing with his wife, family & friends. He was an artist, painting many oil paintings and belonging to the Kansas Art Guild for many years.
He will be deeply missed by all, especially his wife, sons, family, friends, and neighbors.
Graveside service will be Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Maize Park Cemetery, 12733 W. 53rd St. N., Maize, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jay Alexander Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit started for his grandson who died of a rare form of liver cancer. Donations can be mailed to 14458 Point Virgo Rd., Rogers, Arkansas 72756.
Baker Funeral Home Valley Center. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bakerfhvc.com.