Leon Everett Frieson

Leon Everett Frieson was born July 25, 1934 in Wheatland, Wyoming to his parents, Frank Everett Frieson and Viola (Eckes) Frieson. As a young boy, his parents moved to Pocatello, Idaho before making their way to California, where they settled in Littlerock for a time.

During WW2, they moved to Long Beach where his father serviced boats and planes as a mechanic. After the war, the family moved to Bakersfield where Leon spent the rest of his childhood. He helped his dad support the family by working with him as a machinist in their garage. He later took on work at Sam Lynn Minor League Baseball Park selling souvenirs and programs.

As a young man, Leon moved back to Southern California where he met Lenora Hodges at a local roller-skating rink. They were married in 1955, and after a short stay in Norwalk, California, they settled in La Mirada where they would reside the rest of their lives. There, he and Lenora raised three children; Nancy (born 1957), Russell (born 1959) and Gary (born 1965). Leon was a great dad. He would train with his boys, playing catch baseball in the front of their home in La Mirada and attending as many games as possible when work permitted. He also participated in girl scout outings with his daughter Nancy while on camp outs to ensure her safety and support in the wilderness. While he was a great dad, he was also a strict father; not allowing his children to get away with bad behavior so that they could become great adults.

It was very important to Leon to make sure his family took vacations every year. He would alternate years visiting with one family and then enjoying nature’s beauty while on camping vacations in other years. He would take the family to visit grandparents in New Mexico, aunts and uncles in Kansas, and cousins on their farms in Colorado. He always made sure his children were able to experience the different lifestyles of others in the family. He also helped each of his children start their adulthood with a hand-me-down of one of his vehicles: Nancy a Chevelle, Russell and Gary with Oldsmobile Cutlasses; ensuring they had transportation for work and pleasure as young adults.

Leon loved his cars, especially his fast cars. He had Chevys, Oldsmobile’s, and Cadillacs. He worked on automobiles most of his life. During the 1970’s he took several Volkswagens and converted them into off-road dune buggies in his garage. To say that he had a passion for cars was an understatement.

As his children moved on, he and Lenora decided to invest in motorhomes to continue their travels throughout the great western United States, seeing national parks as well as the Hot Springs of Tecopa. Leon was always an advocate for continuous movement as he and Lenora would walk 1-2 miles on a daily basis for more than 20 years after retirement.

He would always take time to spend with his sisters, Norma and Sally, and their families with card nights and holidays. And one of his greatest pastimes was changing oil in his grandchildren’s vehicles, which he did into his 80’s.

After Lenora’s passing in 2023, it was extremely tough for Leon as he had lost his life-long partner. He had much loving support from his son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Yvette, who took care of him in his final months.

Leon was one of the “greats.” The world was definitely a better, safer and more solid place because of guys like Leon. He will be missed dearly by his family and all who knew him. While our hearts are sad to have lost him, we celebrate that he was in our lives as long as he was.