Leland Fern Cantril, 98, of rural Memphis, MO, passed away Saturday, November 14, 2015 at the Lodge of the Wabash, Vincennes, Indiana. He moved to Vincennes, IN in 2011 to live with his daughter, Mary. The son of Ira and Lutie Belle (Leggitt) Cantril, he was born on November 10, 1917 in Van Buren County, Iowa.
Leland served three years in World War II, coming home to Scotland County in December of 1945, where he and his father operated a farm south of Memphis. He established the first Grade A dairy farm in Scotland County and kept it in operation for approximately 30 years.
Leland married Ruth P. Roland on September 14, 1947, they celebrated their 64th anniversary, a few months before her passing, on December 22, 2011.
Leland was a member of the Wallace W. Gillespie VFW Post # 4958 of Memphis, MO.
He valued reading his Bible and was immersed into Christ as a youth. Leland was an active member of First Christian Church of Memphis, where he taught Sunday School for many years and served as an elder.
Leland was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a daughter, Marjorie, a brother, Hollis and a sister, Willa Magorian.
He is survived by daughters: Annabelle (Merlin) Easley of Macon, MO; Mary (Roger) Wright of Vincennes, IN; Elaine (Elmer) Fuller of St. Peters, MO; 17 grandchildren: Rebecca May, Katherine Dittman, James Lohman, Jr., Joseph Lohman, Alisha Lohman, Troy Easley, Ryan Easley, Kyle Easley, Sarah Cathey, Tabitha Durham, Samuel Wright, Paul Wright, Benjamin Wright, Tammy Hurst, Nathanael Fuller, Andrew Fuller, Rachel Fuller; also 21 great-grandchildren along with other relatives and friends.
Memorials are suggested to either the First Christian Church or the Central Christian College of the Bible at Moberly, MO in care of the Payne Funeral Chapel, 202 E. Madison St., Memphis, MO.
1Visitation
One Hour before the service at the First Christian Church in Memphis
Service
At the First Christian Church in Memphis at 11:00 A.M.
Interment
Concord Cemetery southwest of Memphis,/ Military graveside rites provided by Memphis V.F.W.
Directions: South on Hwy MM to M, go Right, about two - three miles on Right. Look for Cemetery Sign before the first corner.
Memorial Contributions
1. First Christian Church in Memphis
2. Central Christian College of the Bible at Moberly, MO
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