Leason Horton McCloud

Leason Horton "Pete" McCloud peacefully went home to be with the Lord on Monday (June 17, 2013) at Newton Medical Center. Pete was born Dec. 29, 1918, to Sidney and Elizabeth McCloud in Neosho, Mo. He was number six of eight boys. The family moved to Newton in 1927, where he graduated from Newton High School. It was in high school that Pete found his fame. During his freshman year, he was selected to the all-state basketball team. He was inducted into the Newton High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2012, he was inducted as a Living Legend in the Kansas High School Hall of Fame and the Colorado University Hall of Fame. Pete served in the Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946 during World War II. He trained cadets and played basketball for the Air Force. From 1947 to 1948, he played basketball for the Industrial League with the Continental Airlines team. In 1948, he played for a professional basketball team, the St. Joe Outlaws. Upon the end of the season, the league became the NBA. On July 4, 1942, Pete married his high school sweetheart, Martha Schroeder. For 69 years, they were the apple of each other's eyes. They adopted three children: Joan, Michael and Timothy. Pete worked for Continental Airlines from 1949 until his retirement in 1978. He started as general manager and later became manager of customer, cargo and personnel. His retirement was filled with woodworking, fishing, gardening and enjoying family.The greatest joy of Pete's life was accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He continued until the end sharing God's Word with others. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney and Elizabeth; wife, Martha; son, Timothy; and brothers, Harry, Elmer, Robert, Leslie, Wesley, Bill and Fred. He is survived by daughter, Joan McCloud of Kansasville, Wis.; son, Michael (Cecilia) McCloud of Aplington, Iowa; grandsons, Timothy (Renee) McCloud and Peter (April) McCloud of Polk City, Iowa; granddaughters, Hannah (Lee) Pothoven, Ames, Iowa, and Jennifer (Noah) Johnson of Chandler, Ariz.; 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; sister-in-law, Esther (Bill) McCloud; nieces and nephews, Arnie (Joyce) McCloud, Terry (Darla) McCloud, Jan McCloud, Nancy (Rich) Parsons, all of Newton; and many great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday (June 20, 2013) at First Baptist Church. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday 1 to 9 p.m., where the family will receive friends between 6 and 9 p.m. A memorial has been established with the Newton High School Athletics Dept.; contributions may be sent to Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, KS 67114. Condolences may be left at www.broadwaycolonialfh.com. Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, Newton.

-Anonymous

 Added: Jun. 19, 2013

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