Billy Ray Leathers

Billy Ray Leathers, age 78, passed away Wednesday evening, February 2, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital.

A native of Mercer, TN, he was the son of the late Roy and Hazel Brown Leathers and lived most of his life in the Toone area. The last 12 years, he had resided in Crump, TN.

A 1958 graduate of Bolivar Central High School, Mr. Leathers retired after 30 years of service at Western Mental Health Institute. He had worked in procurement and was food service manager when he retired. After his career at WMHI, he was a real estate affiliate.

On November 16, 1962, he was united in marriage to Peggy Wilkes at Cedar Chapel, TN. They have been married 54 years. While living in Hardeman County, he was a member of the Toone Baptist Church and moved his membership to Hopewell Baptist Church upon moving to Hardin County. In his leisure time, he enjoyed riding the river, tractors and other types of heavy machinery, boating, four wheelers, family and cooking. His family described him as the type of person who "never met a stranger" and was to many people "the Dad they never had."

His survivors include his wife, Peggy, of Crump; his, "Punkin", daughter Kim Leathers Payne (Danny) of Toone; two sisters, Bobbie Ann Carter of Toone and Beverly Dickton (Frank) of Henderson; and three grandchildren, Kelsey and Karlee Jo Wakeley and Colton Ray Payne.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Leroy Carter.

Memorials may be sent to the Toone Baptist Church, 20 Keller Street, Toone, TN 38381; The American Heart Association (https://donatenow.heart.org/) or The American Diabetes Association (https://donations.diabetes.org).