ohn Leonard Mantooth

John Leonard Mantooth, 70, a resident of Willowbrook, Ill., who was affectionately known as J.L., Jay, dad and grandpa, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Born on April 29, 1939, in Cleveland, he also lived in Baltimore, Md.; Madison, Ga.; and Lemont, Ill., throughout his childhood. An entrepreneur, he was in the service station business from 1966 through 1971 as a co-owner with his brother of Willowbrook Standard in Illinois and owner/operator from 1971 through 1990 of OakBrook Standard in Illinois. He also owned a truck stop in Benton for a short time and worked in the trucking industry sporadically until his death. Always the first to help anyone in need, he truly lived his life by John 15:12 ? "Love one another as I have loved you." Preceding him in death were his parents, Wayne E. Mantooth and Myrtle Lea Fitzsimmons Mantooth. Uncles and aunts preceding him in death were Herman Mantooth, Hugh (Mack) Mantooth, Sally Brooker, Bill Conner, Edith Fox and Mona Miller Neal. Memories of time spent with grandpa, dad, J.L. and Jay will be treasured forever, as his passing will be a true challenge faced by those he left behind. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn D. Mantooth of Willowbrook; son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Faith Mantooth of Westmont, Ill.; daughter and son-in-law, Danise and David Jones of Morton, Ill.; grandchildren: Jeanine Mantooth and Matthew Mantooth, both of Westmont, and Jacob Jones and Caroline Jones, both of Morton; mother-in-law, Bernice Petre of Lockport, Ill.; brothers and sisters-in-law: W. Ed and Lois Mantooth of Cleveland, and Glenn and Fran Mantooth of Apache Junction, Ariz.; uncles and aunts: Leonard Mantooth, Gladys Pullen, Virgie Toomey, Winnie Triplett Mills, and Hoyt Fitzsimmons, all of Cleveland, Lillie Samples and Pearl Frazier Kaiser, both of Chattanooga, and Howard Mantooth of Princeton, Ill.; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and many special friends. A gathering of friends will be held at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home on Saturday, May 30, 2009, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Interment will follow the service at Cedar Springs Baptist Church Cemetery in Cleveland. The Rev. Eddie Hooker and the Rev. Joseph Brando will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Jude Children?s Research Hospital or the American Heart Association. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Mantooth family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.