Leon "Tut" D. Tuttle

Leon D. 'Tut' Tuttle
3/8/1929 - 3/26/2008

Leon was born in Wellfleet, Nebraska, to Ruth and Glenn Tuttle, and graduated from North Platte High School in 1947. He served in the US Army, 11th Airborne, where he completed paratrooper school and was promoted to corporal prior to honorable discharge in 1953.

Leon came to Eugene in 1956 to visit an army buddy and decided to make it his home. Leon married his best friend and wife of 48 years, Joyce Marlene Dale, on December 19, 1959. They made their home in Eugene until moving to Ashland in 1965, where they raised their three daughters. Leon worked in construction and then was a draftsman for Patterson & Stewart Architects for 17 years. From 1985 through his retirement, he was a self-employed cabinet maker, working on projects for many homes and businesses in the valley.

Leon was a family man, devoted to providing a comfortable home for his wife and daughters and was always willing to lend a helping hand to family, friends, and neighbors. He enjoyed traveling, wood working, crossword puzzles, reading, and his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Joyce, Leon is survived by his daughters, Sheila Hamel (Doug) of Ashland, Sheryl Tuttle (Steve Grabs) of Brookings, and Sharon Myrand (Mike) of Eugene; his grandchildren, Nathaniel and Collin Hamel, and Noelle, Steven, and Enga Myrand; brothers Frank of Placentia, CA, and Raymond (Alice) of Omaha, NE; sisters Dorothy Herman (Oscar) of Lincoln, NE and Beth Stiel of Fullerton, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Maynard and sister Helen Berry.

A private graveside service will be held Friday, April 4, 2008. An open-house Celebration of Life will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, 2008, at 270 N. 1st St. in Talent. Memorial gifts may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Legion, Ashland Post.