On Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, Mr. Leonard Mitchell Sauls passed from this life to his Heavenly home.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Sauls; grandson, Todd Bake; parents, Maddy Jane Sauls and Mitchell Z. Sauls; 11 brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his daughter, Katherine Luellen Sauls Madison; son-in-law, John Webster Madison; grandson, Robert Mark Cassidy; granddaughter-in-law, Tammy Cassidy; and his great-grandchildren, Paris, Alexa and Chance Cassidy; as well as many nieces and nephews and his beloved cat "Tommy".
Mr. Sauls' early life spanned World War I, the Great Depression and World War II. He was born on Oct. 25, 1914, on Lookout Mountain, and was raised on a farm. As a boy, he attended Fairview Baptist Church. At 13 years of age, he was saved at a revival and baptized in a creek near his church.
Mr. Sauls' long and eventful life centered on his faith, family and business. After he graduated from Etowah High School, he went into the hotel business, which he made a lifetime career. He owned hotels in Tuscaloosa, Florence and Gadsden. On Jan. 1, 1942, he married Margaret Elizabeth Perkins and they had one daughter, Katherine Luellen Sauls. He was a man of deep religious faith. For much of his life, he was an active member of the First Christian Church of Gadsden, where he held the positions of elder and chairman of the executive board. Later on, he became a member of First Baptist Church of Glencoe. The joys of his life were his grandsons, Mark and Todd. Mr. Sauls had a long, rich life, and enjoyed extraordinary health and vigor up until his death at 99 years of age.
The funeral will be on Tuesday at Crestwood Funeral home at 2 p.m.
The Revs. Philip Elliott and Katie Rengers will officiate. Burial will be in Crestwood Cemetery. Crestwood Funeral Home is in charge of services.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m.