James Naesmith McPhee Leonard

James Naesmith McPhee Leonard, age 40, passed away on August 18, 2021. He is the son of Martin James Leonard, Laurie Torner, and LeaAnn Larson née Engel. He is survived by the love of his life, his daughter, Nevaeh Leonard; father, Martin James Leonard; mothers, Laurie Torner and LeaAnne Larson née Engel; sister, Jamie Aragon née Torner; brothers, Devon Eckart and Josh Krupich; family members of the Leonard family; family members of the Engel family; family members of the Mentzer family; and mother of Nevaeh, Crystal King. James was an energetic and effervescent child with a pure and sensitive heart. He rescued, and tried to heal, every baby bird he found fallen from their nest. He was a lover of each dog and cat that his family adopted. James patiently and sweetly entertained his sister’s obsession with Barbies, and played with her well after the “cool kids” stopped playing altogether. He was his father’s second in command, throughout Martin’s time as a tour guide, a “decent” limousine cleaner (lol), and a one-of-a-kind singer and dancer. He was fiercely protective of the women in his life. No human was good enough to date his sister, and nobody better cause harm to her, his daughter, or his mother. James loved a house party and threw some of the most epic ones in North Phoenix. He was entrepreneurial and tried his hand at sales beginning at a young age;-) He dreamed of having a daughter, and there are no adequate words to describe how bursting with anticipation and excitement he was when he learned that he and Crystal were expecting their daughter. He was adamant on her name, Nevaeh (Heaven spelled backward), including adding his sister’s middle name as one of Nevaeh’s middle names. He was joined at the hip with his daughter for the first few formative years of her life and, regardless of the time and space between them, loved her more than he loved anyone until he knew she existed. In the last few weeks of his life he raved about how incredible she is - smart, funny, sassy, cool, stunning and beloved by so many. James, like everyone, had mistakes on his life journey, and challenges to contend with, but he remained a ridiculously trusting and pure hearted person. He was insanely loyal, always found a way to recognize the best in people, and forgave those who wronged him in a way that most people are unable to do. Even while incarcerated he sang “Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer”, including the childhood ad-libs (e.g., “like a lightbulb”), every Christmas with his mother (Laurie). His charisma and sense of humor is unmatched and James Leonard- the boy, the man, and the name- will forever hold a place in the hearts of SO many of his family members, friends, and acquaintances. 

A celebration of life will be held in his honor on Sunday, August 29, 2021, at the home of his father, Martin James Leonard.