Leon Camp Cardell

Leon Camp Cardell, 84, of Metter died Monday, October 07, 2013, at Community Hospice in Vidalia. Born in Metter, he was the son of Earl Camp and Addie Lee Seigler Cardell. After graduating from Metter High School in 1946, he attended Georgia Military College. Leon served in the U.S. Army post World War II. Most of his military career was spent in Tokyo, Japan where he served under General Douglas McArthur in General Headquarters of the Far East Command.

He worked in the family logging and saw mill business until age 37. In 1967, he began working at Durden Pecan Company. Nine years later he bought the business and along with his wife, Faye, they operated the company until 2000 when he sold it. For Leon, this did not mean retirement; he enjoyed working in and maintaining his pecan orchard and adjoining Golf Driving Range spending most of his time there. He will be remembered as "A working man". He attended Grace Community Church.

Leon also enjoyed sports. He played football at Metter High, pitched baseball in the Canoochee League and played many rounds of golf on the course at Willow Lake Country Club where he was a charter member. There, he served as a president on the Board of Directors and played in many tournaments on other courses and once had the privilege of playing on the Augusta National, home of the "Masters".

Survivors are his wife, Faye Sikes Cardell of Metter; a daughter, Patti C. Lanier of Metter; a son and daughter-in-law, Glenn and Sandra Cardell of Metter; three step-sons and their wives, Andy and Nita Callaway of Metter, Scott Callaway of Collins, Bret and April Callaway of Metter; two sisters and their husbands, Hazel and Bill Wilds of Waycross and Roberta and Ray Youmans of Metter; four granddaughters, Morgan and Marlee Lanier, Amanda and Laura Cardell; six step-grandchildren, Melissa Sapp, Nikki Waters, Adam and Saylor Callaway, Kyle and Kalie Callaway; three step-great grandchildren, Cason and Callen Sapp and Andrew Boone.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, 2:00 PM, at Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, with Pastor Michael Holt officiating. Burial will be in the Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, 5-8 PM, at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Ronald Cardell, Danny Cardell, Larry Cardell, Dwayne Sikes, Dale Sikes and Don Sikes. Honorary pallbearers will be Kelton Cook, James Edward Collins, Benjie Williams, Dr. Barbara Williams, Richard Hughes, Dale Fordham, Greg Wolfe, C.B. Jones, John Jones and his Metter classmates of 1946. Remembrances may be made to Community Hospice, 904 Mt. Vernon Rd., Suite 2, Vidalia, GA 30474. Please sign guest book: www.kennedyfuneralhomechapels.com.

Kennedy Funeral Homes, Hooks Chapel, of Metter is in charge of arrangements.