Leon C. Groves, age 96, of Archer City, Texas, passed away August 13, 2023, in Olney, Texas. As his six-year-old great granddaughter Andie Moer of Windthorst aptly proclaimed after learning of her Pa's passing, "It's all right, Mom, this is not our home.  Our home is with Jesus."

Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 19, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Donny Haywood officiating.  Interment will follow in the Archer City Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 18, 2023, at Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

Leon was born July 24, 1927, in Olney, Texas, to the late Willie Belle Strealy Groves and Gerald Preston Groves.  Leon started school in Morton, Texas, where the family moved to farm.  In 1934 they returned to Olney where he graduated from Olney High School on May 26, 1944.  One week later, Leon began A & M College on D-Day, June 6, 1944.  He attended college one year and then joined the Navy. Soon after he completed basic training, the war ended.  Leon returned to A & M and graduated in 1949 with degrees in geology and petroleum engineering.  In 1950 he started his career in the oilfield with L.T. Burns in Wichita Falls.  He continued that endeavor with the creation of Petro Drilling and Production in Archer City.

Leon married Marcella Marak on January 4, 1951, in Bomarton, Texas.  She preceded him in death on May 17, 1994.  Together they had four children.  Leon married Christine Perry on June 16, 2000, in Archer City.

Leon had a love of golf which began at age thirteen.  He was active in the Archer City Country Club Golf Association and served as the area representative for the Oil Belt Golf Tournaments.  He continued to play golf until he was ninety.  He was also an avid baseball fan throughout his life; he volunteered countless hours to the success of the local little league program.

In 1985 Leon began making furniture for their household.  He continued his woodworking hobby making pieces for his children and grandchildren. As time went on, Leon was asked to make furniture for others. He made and donated a cedar chest to the Archer County Library and a tilt-top table and child's rocker which were donated to the Archer Service Center.  Raffles were held, with proceeds given to both organizations. Leon made everything from tables, a bedroom suite, a game called "Shut the Box" and cutting boards.  Nearly all items were made from recycled wood garnered from old Archer City homes and even some from the old Archer City High School gym.

Survivors include his wife, Christine of Archer City; two daughters, Carol Campbell of Archer City and Julie Humpert and husband, Steve of Windthorst; one son, Scott Groves and wife, Anne of Virginia Beach, Virginia; step-daughter, Jennifer Elder Espinosa Drake and husband, Steve  of Corry, Pennsylvania; step-son, Perry Elder of Boulder, Colorado; one sister, Anita Cole of Buford, Georgia; nine grandchildren, Cory Campbell and wife, Julie, Magen Phillips and husband, Ryan, Aubrey Moer and husband, Grant, Bryce Humpert and wife, Katie, Michael Miller and wife, Terri, Joshua, Hannah, and Daniel Espinosa, and Oliver Elder; ten great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; he held a special fondness for his favorite cat, Mesee.

Leon was also preceded in death by his son, Mark Groves, on December 31, 2018, and his sister, Linda Groves Roberts on February 16, 2001.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Archer Service Center, P.O. Box 578, Archer City, Texas 76351, the Archer City Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 367, Archer City, Texas 76351 or the Archer Public Library, P.O. Box 1574, Archer City, Texas 76351.