Mike Leon

Mickey lived a life defined by hard work, music, family, and love. From a young age, he learned the meaning of dedication and perseverance. As a teenager, he worked long days in the fields, picking cotton and vegetables. Those early years helped shape him into the hardworking man and devoted provider he would become.

One of the greatest parts of Mickey’s life was the love he shared with his childhood sweetheart, Catalina Patino Leon. Their love began when they were young and grew into a beautiful life together. Catalina was not only his wife, but his lifelong companion and the woman with whom he built his family and shared a lifetime of memories.

Mickey proudly served his country in the United States Army and fought in the Austrian War. His courage, strength, and determination were qualities that remained with him throughout his life.

Music was one of Mickey’s greatest passions. He loved to sing and play the guitar, and music brought him tremendous joy throughout his life. While living in California, Mickey and his cousin Jesse Cruz shared that love of music as members of their band, Los Alacranes de Califas. Some of his happiest memories were made with a guitar in his hands, singing and making music with the people he loved.

Mickey was also an incredibly hardworking man. He spent more than 30 years working in paving and construction, always doing what was necessary to provide a good life for his family.

Above everything else, Mickey was a family man. He was a devoted husband, a proud father of two children, and a loving grandfather. His family meant everything to him. He worked hard to make sure his children and grandchildren never went without and always knew they could depend on him. Providing for and taking care of the people he loved was one of the greatest expressions of who Mickey was.

Mickey had a way of leaving an impression on everyone he met. He was loved by so many, and the life he lived will continue to be remembered through his family, his music, the stories he shared, and the countless memories he leaves behind.

Mickey’s life was a life well lived—filled with hard work, sacrifice, laughter, music, and, most importantly, love. From the young man working in the fields, to the soldier who served his country, the musician who loved to sing and play his guitar, the hardworking man who provided for his family, and the husband who shared his life with his childhood sweetheart, Mickey gave his whole heart to the people he loved.