Leo Smallwood was born July 22, 1917 in Nelson, Oklahoma to W.M. and Lydie (Wright) Smallwood, the third of their five children. He passed from his earthly home in Rattan, Oklahoma on May 26, 2018 in Paris, Texas, surrounded by his children and grandchildren who adored him. He left us with 100 years of memories of an engaging, patriotic, hard working and loving father, husband, teacher and friend. Leo grew up in the Cloudy vicinity attending school at East Cloudy and later in Rattan from which he graduated. Mr. Smallwood attended Eastern Oklahoma A & M before accepting a teaching position in a one room school in what is known as Frazier Valley. During the time he was at Frazier Valley, he was drafted into the Army during World War II, serving first at Ft. Sill, and then later in the European theatre. His battalion arrived on Omaha beach six days after the D-Day, and proceeded to fight in the Battle of Hedgerows, the Battle of Saint-Lo and the Battle of the Bulge. Returning to civilian life, he utilized the G.I. bill to attend Southeastern State Teacher’s College, now Southeastern Oklahoma State University where he met his wife Jane who preceded him in death on May 27, 2016 after 68 years of marriage. They were married on November 1, 1947 in Paris, Texas. Leo was an incredible coach, teacher and principal retiring in 1978 from his Alma Mater, Rattan Public Schools. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame, was named a VIM (very important member) of the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association. Additionally, he was named Choctaw Elder of the Year by the Choctaw Nation, and earlier this year, honored on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives as Veteran of the Week, the only Choctaw so honored. Most importantly however he was “daddy” to six grateful children who survive him and “Grandad” by 12 grandchildren and “G-Dad” by 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Uncle Billy and Aunt Lydie Smallwood, sister Mary Lena Smallwood Hester, and brothers William Smallwood, Roy Smallwood and Gilbert Smallwood. Leo loved hunting and fishing, feeding his cattle and all sports, except soccer and hockey which he didn’t understand! His and Jane’s home was open to kids twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, some of whom are here today. He never hesitated to take a kid home after a ballgame to High Hill, Cloudy, or put them up on a sofa at his house. His students and players called him Coach and loved and respected him. Leo Smallwood was a lifetime Ram. He was devoted to Rattan School and intensely proud of the success of the athletic teams, the academic teams and the agricultural program. He looked forward to the day when new facilities would be funded for the children and the community. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at 2 PM in the Rattan Gymnasium with internment to follow at Rattan Cemetery.