Leland Musslewhite

Leland Jay Musslewhite, from Taft, Texas and most recently of Queen Creek, Arizona, joined his beloved wife Judith of 70 years in heaven in the early morning hours of January 15th, 2025. 

During his 90 years of life he worked in the oilfield, first in south Louisiana then in Calgary and Edmonton, Canada where he and his father ran an oilfield supply company. He loved the outdoors, golfing, fishing and big game hunting.  Leland holds two Black bear records in The Boon and Crocket, has a wolf on display at LSU Museum of Natural Science in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was an encyclopedia of knowledge on birds and waterfowl.  In his later years he worked for ACE hardware in Gibert, Arizona where he befriended many neighbors while fixing electrical and plumbing problems throughout the area and many more friends were made on the patio at the local Starbucks. 

Leland was a teller of stories, many of which turned out to have well delivered punch lines. He enjoyed music, playing trombone in school and later teaching himself to play guitar.  His children and grandchildren experienced a unique kind of poetry which he happily taught them and continued to recite till his last days.  He also very much loved his country and took to handing out American flags to his hospice team, caretakers and visitors. 

He leaves behind his brother John (Pat) and sister Judy Kay (Barry), his five children; Faith, Lawayne (Marrilyn), Monica (Timothy), Matthew (Lorreen) and Jennifer (Barry), 10 grandchildren; Lisa, Jessica, Briana, Amanda, Vanessa, Jay, Rebecca, Travis, Jordan and Devyn and 10 great grandchildren; Scott, Sierra, Venice, Thomas, Kheyton, Braxton, Andre, Zayden, Fox and Tobias as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents L J and Esther, brother James and nephews Frank and David. 

Judith and Leland, having joined each other in heaven January 15th, 2025, will be laid to rest together for eternity, at 10:30am at San Tan Memorial Cemetery in Queen Creek, Arizona on February 17th, 2025.

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