Leon Dansby

MARLEY MILL COMMUNITY… Mr. Leon Dansby, a resident of the Marley Mill Community, near Ozark, died Monday morning, July 18, 2022, in Andalusia. He was 92.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, July 23, 2022, in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Mike Whitt and Reverend Harold Peters officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memory Gardens. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1124 County Road 11, Ozark, Alabama 36360 and Marley Mill Fire Department, 3299 North County Road 21, Ozark, Alabama 36360.

Mr. Dansby, son of the late Ulus O’Neal Dansby and Edna Irene Wilkinson Dansby, was a native of Ozark. He was a 1948 Graduate of Dale County High School in Ozark, received his Bachelor of Science from Troy University, and his Master’s Degree and AA from Auburn University. Mr. Dansby began his teaching career in Shorter, Alabama, then to Attapulgus, Georgia before returning to Ozark in 1960. He taught biology at Carroll High School, then he moved to Ariton High School where he was a baseball coach, basketball coach, and taught science. Mr. Dansby returned to Ozark City Schools where he served as the Title 1 Director before being elected as Superintendent of Education for Dale County Schools. He donated the land for the Marley Mill Fire Department, and he served as a volunteer fireman until his health prevented him from serving. Mr. Dansby was a faithful member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, taught Sunday school, and served on numerous committees. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army. Mr. Dansby was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Georgia Marie Nolin; two brothers, Wayne Dansby and John Dansby.

Surviving relatives include his wife of sixty-nine years, Ruby Nichols Dansby, Ozark; two daughters, Lorna Nolin (Frank), Mexico Beach, FL and Jill Knopp (John), Dothan; a son, Neal Dansby (Jennifer), Red Level, AL; three sisters, Myrl Silavent, Ozark, Carolyn Trolinger (Ben), Lake Martin, AL, and Brenda Munson, Chester, Virginia; four grandchildren, Grant Nolin (Anne-Marie), Amanda Kirschke (Nate), Elliott Dansby (Jenny), and Judith Anne Fick (Stephen); nine great-grandchildren, Kayleigh Fountain, Lyla Fountain, Liam Kirschke, Tim Nolin, Taylor Nolin, Lottie Dansby, Gil Dansby, Julian Fick, and Douglas Fick; sister-in-law, Martie Nichols, Clayhatchee; several nieces and nephews.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Elliott Dansby, Stephen Fick, Grant Nolin, Tim Nolin, Nate Kirschke, and Ed Nichols. Honorary pallbearers will be Lee Peters, Eddie Hardwick, Ed Peters, Jim Ezell, W.J. Moseley, John Uzzell, and Norman Tharpe.