Obituary: Dr. Jesse Lee Leonard III – UL Athletic Medical Staff 1974-2017 – Feb. 14, 2017

Dr. Jesse Lee Leonard III 1940 – 2017

LAFAYETTE – A Memorial Service will be celebrated Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 11:00 am at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette for Dr. J. Lee Leonard III, 76, who passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at Lafayette General Medical Center.

Visitation will be observed on, Thursday, February 16, 2017 from 9:00 am until the time of services, at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette.

Dr. J. Lee Leonard III was a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He was a Yankee boy by geographical birth but always a Southern man at heart. He was born March 1, 1940 in Springfield, Illinois. Despite being the son of a successful farmer, he knew he wanted to be a doctor. That dream was almost thwarted when his mother gave him a set of golf clubs and told him he was going to need to learn how to play golf. He gave her the clubs back and said he no longer wanted to be a doctor. Fortunately for both him and the City of Lafayette, he didn’t let the idea of golfing change his dream.

He was a graduate of Westminster College and had received his M.D. from Tulane University; where upon this past spring he celebrated his 50th anniversary. During his residency, Lee was a member of the United States Air Force in Wichita Falls, Texas. He started practicing Orthopedics in 1973 and to this current day, has never officially retired. Lee received numerous honors and awards from the Herodicus Society, International Society of the Knee and International Arthroscopy Society. Locally, he was acknowledged into the Ragin Cajuns Hall of Fame for 40 years of service as the team Doctor.

Lafayette was a seasonal paradise for Lee; the two most important seasons being Fall and Spring. Fall meant cooler temperatures and hunting at the camp with his friends and family. Spring was reserved for Mardi Gras in which he was very active and reigned as King Gabriel the 58th. When not traveling aboard, he enjoyed the supper club dinners with his friends in Lafayette.

Lee is survived by his children, Jesse Lee Leonard IV and his wife, Christine and their children, Jesse Lee Leonard V, Christian Leonard and Madison Leonard all of Lafayette, Lacey Elizabeth Leonard Rubin and her husband, Richard of Fayetteville, AR, Mae Leonard and her daughter, Ava Leonard, both of New Orleans, Robert Evan Leonard of Lafayette and Camille Leonard and Jill Hennelly of Hoboken, NJ; two sisters, Kay Jorgenson and her husband, Jim of Prospect, KY and Sue Leonard of Parker, CO and numerous dear nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Lee Leonard II and Elizabeth Jane Kent; his wife, Jennie Leonard and his sister, Ann Miller.

The family wishes to thank everyone for the compassionate care given to Jesse and his family.

Online obituary and guestbook may be viewed at www.fountainmemorialfuneralhome.com.

Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1010 Pandora St., (337) 981-7098 is in charge of arrangements.

Published in the The Advertiser on Feb. 15, 2017

Athletic Network Footnote posted by Dr. Ed Dugas and provided by Travis Soileau, Director of Athletic Training at UL. 
Dr. Leonard worked with the Athletic Training Staff at UL Athletics from the Spring, 1974 until 2017. 
Our condolences to his family, friends and patients.