Hollis Leon Shadowen SR

Hollis Leon Shadowen, Sr. of La Grange KY passed away peacefully on September 26, 2023 at the age of 88 after a brief illness. Born in Central City Kentucky on April 7, 1935 to the late Norman and Erlene (Wydick) Shadowen, he moved to Louisville with his family in 1944. Leon served in the US Army Armored division at Fort Knox during the Korean War; worked at Blue Bird Bakery in Louisville, Cooper Tires in Texas, Sutcliffe Sporting Goods Company in Louisville and retired from The Jenner Company/Engravers Paper Company in La Grange. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, stepmother Josephine Shadowen, brother Kenneth “Tommy” Shadowen (Jan), sister Mary Jane Cherwak (Jim) and son Mark Cole.

In addition to being a proud graduate of Flaget High School and Bellarmine College (Accountancy) he was an avid University of Kentucky fan. He loved shooting, fishing, reading, crossword puzzles and talking about his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Known for his care and compassion for those around him, he would still let you know if he thought you were out of line.

Leon is survived by his wife Peggy; sisters Diane Gilkey and Sue Collins; children Leon Shadowen Jr (Laurie), Steve Shadowen (Minh-Hien Nguyen), Jeff Shadowen (Teresa), Melinda Eaton (Keith), Debbie Sharp and Phillip Cole (Rose); grandchildren Nicole Shadowen (Mitch Weikert), Carrie Shadowen (Will Whiteside), Hannah Shadowen, Noel Shadowen, Nick Shadowen, Liam Ziaja, Adian Ziaja, Sara Shadowen, Sam Shadowen (Paige), Kristin Eaton, Erik Eaton (Julie), Hannah Johnson (John), Noah Sharp, Dalton Cole (Samantha) and Gage Snook; great grandchildren Briar Cole and Leigha Largen and countless nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 PM Tuesday October 3, 2023 and October 4 from 11:00 AM to noon with services to follow at Stoess Funeral Home, in Crestwood, KY. We welcome family and friends to join us at the John Black Community Center, 1551 KY 393 in LaGrange, at 2:30 PM for a celebration of Leon’s life.

Leon’s time at St. Thomas Home For Boys had a profound and lasting impact on his life and it is where his love of learning was instilled. The family asks that expressions of love may be made to the Flaget Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, https://www.flaget.org/donate.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hollis Leon Shadowen SR, please visit our floral store.