Leo Journagan
(November 22, 1926 – May 29, 2014)

Leo Journagan passed away at 10:30 pm on Thursday, the 29th of May at James River Care Center. Leo was born November 22, 1926, to Enlow and Phoebe Journagan, in Lead Hill, Arkansas. Leo graduated from Omaha, Arkansas High School after serving in the Merchant Marines during WW2. Leo married Beverly Jean Chitwood, whom he had met while working at Omaha High School. They were married November 29, 1950. Leo and Jean had their first child, Allen, in 1952, followed by a second son, Mike, in 1953. Twelve years later their daughter Jill was born. Leo founded Journagan Construction Company in 1952, which specialized in custom excavation work and land clearing for developing farms and water supplies. In 1964, Leo purchased a small asphalt paving firm in Springfield, Missouri and added underground utility work to the companys’ growing list of construction services. In 1981 the company added limestone mining operations in Springfield and Branson, Missouri, to support the construction activities of the company. The company eventually grew to employ more than four hundred persons while performing work in thirty-two states. Leo was an avid hunter and fisherman all his life. He enjoyed camping and watersports with his family and friends. In the early sixties Leo began to purchase parcels of land south of Mtn. Grove in Douglas county. Originally intended as a hunting preserve, the combined properties were quickly being made ready for cattle breeding operations. He hired Marty Lueck as the Ranch Manager. Marty and Leo developed a plan to grow the Ranch to support the development of genetically bred Polled Hereford cattle designed to thrive in the harsh conditions of Southern Missouri. The Ranch became well known in the US, Canada and as far away as Russia for the high quality and durability of the animals produced there. The Ranch along with Leo and Marty has been named Polled Hereford Breeder of the year on several occasions. In 2010, Leo donated more than thirty-three hundred acres and approximately one thousand head of cattle to Missouri State University and it is now a part of the Darr School of Agriculture at MSU. Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Enlow and Phoebe; his son, Mike; his sister, Lavon Ellison; a sister-in-law, Alberta Journagan as well as his great-uncle, Clifton Journagan. Leo is survived by his wife,Jean; one son, Allen; one daughter, Jill; one brother, Dorman; and many brothers and sisters in-law and nieces and nephews.

A visitation service will begin at 10am, Wednesday, the 4th of June, at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, followed by a brief memorial service at 11am. Internment will be at Greenlawn Funeral Home North immediately following the memorial service. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Leo’s name to Ozark’s Food Harvest.