Johnny Leon Jennings

            Johnny Leon Jennings passed from this life on Monday, February 29, 2016. He died at his home in Roosevelt, Oklahoma, at the age of 69 years and 24 days. He was born February 5, 1947, at Hobart, Oklahoma, to JL and Reba Jacqueline “Jackie” (Risenhover) Jennings. He grew up in Hobart and attended school there, graduating from Hobart High School. He attended college in Guymon, Oklahoma. He was an avid animal lover, especially his greyhounds. He loved to ride horses and rope and raised his son, JB to be a bull rider. He loved the rodeo life, especially watching his son ride. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. During his tenure with the USDA, one of his duties was riding the U.S./Mexico border on horseback to help in the prevention of animal smuggling across the border. He spent many years caring and attending to the animals in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, near Lawton/Fort Sill. He retired from the USDA after contracting a rare disease from caring for an unhealthy animal. He later worked as a police officer in Burns Flat and then as a sheriff’s deputy in Cordell. Before completing full retirement, he worked all over the United States in oil refineries with his son, JB and his brother, Jerome. He met the love of his life in Port Arthur, Texas, and was united in marriage to Helen Kay (Travis) on May 4, 2006. They made their home on the back roads of Roosevelt. He and his wife loved to hunt, fish and go back roading together. He never met a stranger and had lots of friends. He loved to tell his kids and grandkids exaggerated stories of the past. He was a Baptist.             Survivors include his wife: Helen Kay Jennings, of the home in rural Roosevelt, Oklahoma; two sons: Matt Mixon, of Elk City, Oklahoma and JB Jennings, of Ardmore, Oklahoma; a daughter: Jonetta Lynn Forbes and husband Casey, of Elkhart, Kansas; a daughter-in-law: Jennifer, of Frederick, Oklahoma; Step children; Travis LaBure of Port Acres, Texas and Kelly LaBure of Leshara, Nebraska; a brother: Jerome Jennings and wife Diana, of Decatur, Texas; and nine grandchildren: Chayton, Darcy and Braxton “Doc” Forbes, of Elkhart, Kansas; Jaycie Love and Hunter Jennings, of Frederick, Oklahoma, Kaden and Kendyl LaBure, of Port Acres, Texas and Lanae and Cash Kruse, of Leshara, Nebraska.             Orr Gray Gish Funeral Home(580) 335-2112