Leonard Ray Keesee

On the afternoon of August 2,2026, Leonard Keesee passed away from heart failure. Leonard was 88 years old --- and would have turned 89 in October. He lived a long and productive life, making use of all his gifts to help others. Leonard was born on October 09, 1937, to Norvel Keesee, and Gladys Edwards Keesee in Johnson County, Texas. He often spoke fondly of his time on his family’s farm in his early years. When he was in first grade, his family had moved to Fort Worth, where he started school at Dagget Elementary School. He graduated from R.L. Pascal High School in Fort Worth in 1955. While in junior high and high school he played baseball and basketball. Surprisingly, his family has a picture of him as a cheerleader for Dagget Junior High. Who knew? After high school, he went to Decatur Baptist College, playing on their basketball team. The following two years, he played for the TCU Horn Frogs Basketball team and was a life-long TCU Sports fan. Leonard was a veteran, serving in the Army as a combat medic. Luckily for him, after his medic training in San Antonio, he was stationed in Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu Hawaii. (Not a bad gig for a young guy from Fort Worth!) Unfortunately, in 1961, as he was about to be discharged, the Bay of Pig incident occurred, discharges were cancelled and he was sent to Vietnam. For the next several years, he served as a medic in Vietnam. In the early 1970s, El Centro College in Dallas offered an Associate Degree Nursing program for veterans interested in nursing, giving army medics special credit for their work in the service. Leonard graduated from this program, and following successful completion of the state licensure exam for Registered Nurses, he worked for several Dallas hospitals, including St. Paul’s Hospital and Baylor University Medical Center. He subsequently earned a BS from what is now Texas A & M-Commerce. In the early 70s, his children, Krista Keesee Schulte and Erin Keesee, were born, provided him much joy as a #1 Girl Dad. Unfortunately, addiction took a toll on Leonard, and he suffered some years resulting from the consequences of drug abuse. Fortunately, at some point, he realized that “he had to get help or die”, and with the help of his priest at St. Fransis Episcopal Church in Dallas and Alcoholics Anonymous, he became clean and sober on May 21, 1980. At his death, he had been clean and sober 46 years. Several years during his recovery process, he became an Addiction Counselor, working in several addiction centers, including Medical City Green Oaks for many years and Solutions 0utpatient Center for several years before his retirement in 2023. Leonard was part of the development of the Texas Peer Assistance Program, (TPAPN) a support program for nurses suffering from addiction to provide a safe way for them to return to practice. In addition, he gave many years of service on the TPAPN Board and being a peer counselor and support group leader for recovering nurses in the Dallas area. Leonard and Susy Sportsman married on August 24, 1991, almost 35 years ago. Both of them were grateful for their years together. Right after his retirement, Leonard received the Siera Tucson Gratitude Recognition – Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Dallas Gratitude for Giving Celebration. This honor is given for an individual whose dedication, compassion, and service to the addiction community over a career has made a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Leonard is survived by his wife, Susy, Krista Keesee Schulte, (Carl), Princeton and Erin Keesee, Azle. Stepchildren include Trey Pruitt (Suzanne Corkins), Zac Pruitt (Becky), Kate Pruitt Chapin (Ryan Chapin) and grandchildren, Aiden Schulte, Connor Schulte, Nathan Pruitt, Cole Pruitt, Callie Pruitt. Mia Pruitt, Quinn Chapin, and Ella Chapin. The family would like to thank the staff at Home Hospice of Grayson, Cooke, and Fannin Counties, particularly Rebecca, Kelly, Pam, and Paul; Chris Hennegin of Local Hearts, Gainesville, and Cindy Hernadez, for their kindness and care over the last 18 months. A Celebration of Life is being planned. For those wishing to give a gift in memory of Leonard, two organizations dear to his heart are: Texas Peer Assistance Program (TPAPN) A Program of the Texas Nurses Foundation in partnership with the Texas Board of Nursing To donate specifically to TPAPN, go to https://secure.affinipay.com/pages/texas-nurses-association/foundation_donation and select the TNF/TPAPN option for giving. Episcopal Church of the Resurrection of Wise County https://www.google.com/search?q=905+S.+Church+Street%2C+mailing+address+P.+O.+Box+22%2C+Decatur%2C+TX%2C+United+States%2C+76234&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF Please make check out the Wise Congregation with Building Fund on the memo line. Address at P0 Box 22, Decatur Texas, 76234.

Leonard Ray Keesee

October 9, 1937 - August 2, 2026