Thomas L. "Tom" Leer, Jr.

ELKHART — Thomas L. “Tommy” Leer Jr., 40, of Elkhart, passed away suddenly Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at Elkhart General Hospital following an unexpected illness.

He was born May 4, 1977, in Goshen, to the late Thomas L. Leer Sr. and his mothers, the late Rosa Flores and the late Juanita (Viars) Leer.

He later married Amberly D. Woodford on April 28, 2007, in Mishawaka. She survives him in Elkhart.

Also surviving are his stepbothers, Gregory D. “Dean” Williams, Nathan O. Tacy and James C. Penninger; stepsister Nancy J. Eutsey; and loving sister and best friend, Marcella R. Clements; cousin and dear friend Steven Ratliff; grandmother Martha A. Weaver; nieces Marlena Clements, Colleen Groman, Mahaley Denny and Cali and Adyson Raley; mother-in-law Beth Morris; father-in-law Douglas (Brenda) Woodford; sister-in-law Casandra Raley; four great-nephews and one great-niece.

The congregation of the Northside Church of the Nazarene, 53569 C.R. 7, Elkhart is honored to host Tommy’s celebration of life services at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, with visitation starting there at 10 a.m.

Pastor Gary Sheets of the Middlebury Community Church will officiate and military honors will be rendered at the Veteran’s Towers at Prairie Street Cemetery in Elkhart by the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard, the Osceola American Legion No. 308 and the North Central Indiana Patriot Guard Riders following the service.

Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart has been assisting the family with arrangements.

Tommy worked as a purchasing agent for Clayton Homes in Middlebury for several years.

He was captivating and charismatic and had a smile that would light up a room.

He also had the ability to tell the best stories this side of the Mississippi, and they were usually highlighted with his signature masterful interjection of completely useless knowledge and trivia.

Along with that, it is believed that Tommy will be best remembered for his uncanny ability to become confused at even the simplest directions, although he always seemed to get to where he was going.

He loved his family and friends, and always was willing to give in any way he could.

He served honorably as a sergeant in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Iraq in 2004-05 and 2008-09 with the 855th Quartermaster’s Company as a field service sergeant.

Memorial donations may be given to the Osceola American Legion No. 308 Ladies’ Auxiliary.

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