FRANK LEIVAN

GOLDEN CITY- Military rites will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar for Frank Leivan, 75, who died Friday, Dec. 24, 2021, at his home near Golden City. Visitation will follow until 5 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Contributions can be made payable to the Golden City Fire Department, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann; son Steve, daughter Stephanie, son-in-law Jarod, grandsons Colton and CJ; three sisters, Mary Ann Wade, Clara Bell McDonald and Leona Camp and one brother, Roger Leivan.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, JR, Alvin and Derald Leivan.

Mr. Leivan was born May 28, 1946, at the family farm, Frog Holler, to Roscoe and Elva Lena (Mabee) Leivan. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1963 and then joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He served on aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge for two tours during Vietnam and was very proud of his military service.

After completing his time in the Navy and returning to the Lamar area, he fell in love with a former high school classmate and made Mary Ann Boman his wife on August 24, 1968. He earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1971 from the University of Missouri-Rolla. He also became a father in 1971 to his son, Steve. The three moved to Riverside, Calif., where he worked as a systems analyst for U.S. Navy Fleet Missile Systems. Daughter Stephanie joined the family in 1974 and in 1976 they relocated to Jefferson City, Mo., where Mr. Leivan opened L&S Cycle, dealer of Hodaka motorcycles. They later relocated back to his birthplace, Frog Holler, where he operated Wee Cool & Heat, raised cattle, enjoyed feeding his catfish, working on his metal building, spending time with his favorite pup "Ozzie" and being at his farm.

He was well known for promoting dirt bike racing events for over 40 years through the creation of both the Missouri Hare Scrambles Championship and Midwest Off Road Events (MORE) series. One of his greatest joys was traveling all around the United States supporting his son’s racing career. They spent most every weekend for nearly 50 years racing, riding, working on trails and talking about their dirt bike adventures.

His most prized possessions were his family. He loved them all fiercely. He was a wonderful husband, an incredible dad, a devoted and proud Papa, the best man they knew. He bragged about them every chance he got and went out of his way to make their lives better every single day.

Mr. Leivan never met a stranger and always had a story to share. He had done it all - hitchhiked across the country, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, land sailed, even was a square dance caller. He had the bluest eyes, the best singing voice and the softest feet. He lived every part of the dash between 1946 and 2021.