To view the funeral service for Leslie please follow the link below
https://my.gather.app/remember/leslie-ann-arbuckle
Leslie Ann Arbuckle, 75, of Blue Springs, Missouri, peacefully left this world of pain and sorrow to be with her Lord on Sunday, May 8, 2022.
In the winter of 1946, Rolla William and Jo Anna McNeece Marr became the proud parents of a little girl they named Leslie Ann. Leslie grew up in the Columbus, MO Community, attending Farmers Elementary School, College High School and Central Missouri State College, now the University of Central Missouri.
Leslie was a lifelong member of the Church of the Nazarene. She began attending church at the age of five with “Grammie”, her maternal grandmother, Goldie McNeece. Over the years, she held many positions of leadership in the churches she attended including Sunday School teacher, treasurer, Missions president, Women’s Ministries director, board member and secretary of the board. Leslie was the volunteer office manager at the 1st Church of the Nazarene in Blue Springs for over 10 years.
Throughout her lifetime, Leslie held several different jobs, many of which were related to the medical field including nursing assistant at a hospital and nursing homes, office manager at the UCM health center and a doctor’s office. She also earned a state of Missouri EMT license. Leslie worked for the Nazarene Publishing House, now The Foundry, as an editorial assistant and also for the American Nurses Association as a purchasing assistant. Later in life, she became a licensed insurance agent, working with her husband, William (Bill) Arbuckle, in his AAA Auto Club Insurance office.
In 1966, Leslie met a young airman, Kenneth (Ken) Fowler, from Whiteman Air Force Base at the Nazarene Church in Warrensburg. They were married on January 21, 1967. During their marriage, they were active car racing fans and, for many years, Leslie wrote articles for several racing periodicals and driver interview articles for the weekly programs at I-70 Speedway and Lakeside Speedway. They were also members of CARB (Central Auto Racing Boosters) where she held the positions of treasurer, historian, parliamentarian and publicist. They later divorced but remained close friends.
Leslie met the love of her life, Bill Arbuckle, in the fall of 1993 while working in the CARB Membership booth on a Friday night. They had an immediate connection and were married on October 6, 1994. In addition to being husband and wife, they were best friends who loved each other unconditionally. Bill preceded her in death on November 29, 2020. Leslie continued to mourn the loss of Bill for the remaining days of her life.
Leslie’s favorite things were spending time with friends and family, reading and spoiling her pets which included dogs and many cats. She loved all furry faces.
Leslie is survived by her sister, Meredith Thompson and her husband, George Mason of Wichita, Kansas, two aunts, many cousins and her cats Molly, Teddy and Magee.
Her family will receive friends and family from 1:00 -2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 14, 2022 at Meyers Funeral Chapel, 1600 W. Main St., Blue Springs, MO. Funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. at the chapel. Interment will follow at the Columbus Christian Church Cemetery, in Columbus, MO, State Highway M. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Leslie’s memory to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Rd, Kansas City, MO 64137. Donation envelopes will be available at the service. Memories of Leslie and words of comfort for her family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
She was very special lady.She will be dearly missed. Sorry I won’t be able to make the service. But my prayers and thoughts will be with you.
Leslie always had such a sweet smile. Even through the pain and suffering she had a glow about her and a sparkle in her eyes. She had a servant’s heart and a loving spirit. Leslie will be missed along with her beloved Bill, but they’re together now enjoying the presence of Jesus forever.
Leslie and I connected well over 40 years ago when her baby sister married my brother. I can’t even remember that first meeting and we only physically connecter once when she and Bill came to Atlanta. Non-the-less, she was my long distance friend, a pen pal and a “surprises in the mail buddy” for > 40 years and she was never wavering. She enriched my life and made me a better person. A gentle soul and a woman of never ending spirituality. I can only imagine her at peace, free from all earthly constraints, reuniting with her loved ones and her fur baby children. That’s how I choose to think of Leslie. So until we meet again, my friend. I forgive you for taking a little piece of my heart with you.
Leslie was a special person. She cared about her family and her pets and even the wild ones around her house. Bill and her even named the wild ones. They knew when they would be around to eat. Leslie always helped with things. A very good listener. I know she missed Bill dearly and now they are together again watching over us. I will miss our talks Leslie. Thanks for being my friend. Love you my friend.
Leslie was my sister-in-law. My brother Bill loved her very much and she loved him very much also. That made me very happy. She was a great volunteer for her Church. I know she is out of pain now and happy to be with Bill again and of course both of them in the arms of Jesus.