Leslie Lewis "Les" Deam

Leslie Lewis "Les" Deam, age 88, of Pine Bluff, died December 29, 2011, at the Veterans Hospital in Little Rock. Les was born April 1, 1923, in Summer Hill, Illinois, a son of the late William Emerson and Minnie Lee Ruyle Deam. Les enjoyed a life of adventure, service and hard work. He served in the U.S. Army in the Phillipines during World War II. As a member of the Engineering unit, he built housing, airstrips and repaired infrastructure. After the war, he returned to Pine Bluff and cofounded Myhand/Deam crop dusting business. Following his crop dusting days, he founded and operated D&D Fiberglass Manufacturing Company in Pine Bluff. Les served on the Board of Governors of Shriners Childrens Hospital in Shreveport for 10 years, becoming an emeritus member after service. He committed many years to flying children and their families to the Children's Hospitals in Shreveport and the Children's Burn Center in Galveston, Texas. Les served as an Imperial Council representative emeritus of the Pine Bluff Sahara Temple. He served as recorder for the Pine Bluff Shriners for 32 years and was active as a lifetime member of the clown patrol. Les was a member of the VFW, De Molay program, and Wesley United Methodist Church. Les was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Guthrie Deam; three brothers, W.E, Ray and Tom Deam; two sisters, Dora Lee George and Dorothy Winans. Survivors include two sons of Les and Delores Lewis Deam, Wayne Deam of Pine Bluff and James William Deam of Perryville; daughter of Les Deam and Theresa Deam Walker, Brenda Lee Slaughter of Hope; sister, Donna McBryde of North Little Rock; grandchildren, Scotty Ray, Heath Ray, Leslie Hall, Matthew Deam, Christen Deam, Jamie Deam and Jeremy Deam, thirteen great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be 2 p.m., Saturday, January 7, 2012, in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son Funeral Directors with Reverend Jackie Gregory officiating. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 3100 Samford Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71103. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.