Dennis Leatherby

Dennis Leatherby was born January 14, 1960 in Rockford, Ill. On August 6, 2018, he passed away suddenly due to a heart attack at his home in Fayetteville, Ark. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Leatherby, his daughters, Lauren (David Justiniano) and Michelle Leatherby, his mother, Jeanine Leatherby, and his sister, Dawn (Juan) Araujo. Integrity, perseverance and generosity defined Dennis. He was an outstanding man. For a decade he served as the chief financial officer for Tyson Foods, spending a total of 28 years with the company. He steered the company through difficult times and received various awards throughout his professional tenure, but more important to him than any of that was his faith, his family and serving his community. Soft-spoken and humble, he was unshakable in his faith and his fierce love for his family. One of the things that brought him the most joy was giving to others. He often said his greatest accomplishment was his two daughters. He would beam with pride when he spoke of them, and he told them how much he cared for them every chance he got. Spending his whole career working with numbers and in boardrooms, he was especially tickled and delighted to have a younger daughter who writes comedy. Loyalty was one of his strong suits. His colleagues, some of whom he worked with for nearly 30 years and became as close to him as brothers, say he always put others' needs before personal recognition and acted with immense integrity. He cared deeply about those around him and felt a responsibility to help them reach their full potential. Dennis was a fierce defender of others, standing absolutely firm when the need arose and making tough decisions quickly. But those close to Dennis also remember him as a soft-hearted man. At home, he would at times stand at the window for 20 minutes watching a graceful deer in the yard or patiently sit with the family cat in his lap because he didn't want to disturb its nap. His ultimate soft spot was for his family. The home will feel empty without his goofy sense of humor and deep belly laugh echoing throughout the house. A man profoundly rooted in faith, he gave his time, money and energy to causes both locally and around the world. Ceaselessly generous, he was also passionate about mentorship. From a high school boys' Bible study to one-on-one professional mentoring with dozens, Dennis loved working with people. He had recently retired and was excited to spend more time with his family, including his sister's sons, Luke and Nicholas Araujo, and begin after-school tutoring for the Wise Kids program at Genesis church in South Fayetteville. Dennis is preceded in death by his father, James Leatherby. A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, August 10, at 2 p.m. in the Activities Center at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Ark. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Central United Methodist Church's missions fund, 6 West Dickson Street, Fayetteville, Ark. 72701. To sign the online guestbook please sign www.nelsonberna.com.