Leeman Jewell Cormack

Leeman Jewell Cormack departed this life on January 28, 2013 in Corpus Christi, Texas at the age of 96. After a 40-year career in engineering, he retired from Corpus Christi Army Depot in 1982. He enjoyed his retirement in Harrah, Oklahoma and Harlingen, Texas, where he was an active member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, before returning to Corpus Christi 4 years ago. The oldest of five children, Leeman was born January 19, 1917 to Ed Cormack and Roxie Jewell Cormack on their family farm at Charleston, Arkansas. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in 1942 with a degree in engineering, as salutatorian of his class. His career took him across the United States and around the world, including Venezuela, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the Marshall Islands. His long life, travels, and sense of humor provided him with an endless supply of tales that he told with a natural storyteller's flair for the inventive, even if accuracy sometimes had to be sacrificed. He was an avid reader and interested in almost every subject and topic. Leeman was a born tinkerer and could turn his hand to anything mechanical, electrical, automotive and otherwise. No matter where he lived, he planted a garden and tended it lovingly, even in the intense heat of a South Texas summer. During retirement, he followed the stock market with single-minded interest. He is survived by his loving wife, Janie Inez Gray Greenwell Cormack, son Dewayne Scott Cormack, daughter Sharon Cormack Mize, stepdaughters Karen Supple, Mary Lynn Hendrickson and Jane Floyd, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Imogene Cormack Spencer and brother Joe Don Cormack. Leeman was preceded in death by his beloved first wife Marcile Cole Cormack, son Donald Edward Cormack, and brothers Harold Cormack and James Cormack. On Saturday, February 2, 2013 visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Smith Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, Oklahoma; and Funeral Service at 3 p.m. in Smith Parks’ Chapel. Interment will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery in Harrah, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity or Memory Lane Cemetery. Or donations can be made to the Singleton Family Cemetery, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as follows: Singleton Family Cemetery Perpetual Care Association, c/o Mary Cormack Newhart, P.O. Box 295, Charleston, Arkansas, 72933. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK.