Leslie Eugene McElrath, 59, of Dexter, Mo., formerly of Malden, Mo. and Sikeston, Mo., died Monday, July 12, 2004, at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter.

Born Nov. 1, 1944, in Malden, son of the late Raymond and Lucille House McElrath, he was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served during Vietnam, an active member of the Sikeston American Legion and he attended the Nazarene Church in Malden. He was a police officer for the Malden and Dexter Police Departments and also worked for the Bloomfield Sheriff's Department.

On Dec. 23, 1962, in Malden, he married Lena Thompson, who survives.

Survivors also include three daughters, Lisa Tittle, of Malden, LaDonna Fowler, of Dexter and Laura Pullum, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Jessica and Leslie Pattillo, Jennifer Fowler Henderson, Linda Fowler and Raymond Pullum and two great-grandchildren, Jaden Henderson and Abbie Coronado.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Evelyn Clay and one brother, Robert Leon McElrath.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 15, at the Landess Funeral Home in Malden.

Graveside services with military rites will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 16, at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo.