“The Twists and Turns of a Life”
Ellis Leon Clymore was born on a farm outside of Chelsea, Oklahoma on Nov. 21, 1935. His family moved around a lot before settling in Oklahoma from the 5th grade through 2 years of college. The family became members of the Church of Christ when he was about 12. He went to Church of Christ related colleges in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He met Lou at Harding College, Arkansas. They were married in Sept., 1958 and they left for Zambia, Africa in Dec., 1958. Three children were born in
Lusaka, Zambia. They moved to Malawi and stayed there in evangelistic work for 5 years. They returned to California in 1972. Leon was pastor of the Church of Christ in Riverside, California for 6 years, then resigned and became a computer programmer. They moved to Atlanta in 1979 and have lived here since. Leon went to Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur for 3 years. Then he became a minister/administrator in the Atlanta Union Mission, becoming the founder/director of the recovery program for men at the Mission, having been certified as an addiction counselor. He retired in 2004. Then later began teaching English to immigrants for 8 years, part-time. He fully retired in 2015. He and his wife were members of the Oakhurst Baptist Church for 20 years (Lou still is there). They have 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren, all living around the metro Atlanta area (except their son and wife who are living and working in Antigua, an island in the Caribbean.) Leon enjoys reading theology and novels, playing pickleball, exercising, studying Spanish and helping Lou in the garden.
- Facilitator: Robert Stewart
- Musician: Charli Vogt