SERVICES:  Saturday, January 4, 2025

Jones and Son Funeral Home, Hattiesburg

3:30 p.m.

VISITATION:  Saturday, January 4, 2025

Jones and Son Funeral Home, Hattiesburg

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Stanley Leighton was born in Columbia, Missouri on September 1, 1951 to Forrest "Red" and Dorcas Leighton.  He was the oldest of three children. Stan was raised in Columbia, Missouri and attended Columbia public schools, graduating from Hickman High School.  Stan attended Central Missouri State University (now CMU) in Warrensburg, Missouri for one year.  He then transferred to the University of Missouri at Columbia where he graduated in May 1976 with a bachelor's degree in forestry management.

In July 1974, Stan married Vicki Miller. They relocated to Laurel, Mississippi in July 1976 when Stan accepted a job with Leaf River Forest Products.  After several years with Leaf River, he decided to develop his own forestry business specializing in procurement, timber cruising, harvesting, and reforestation. Stan loved being outdoors "in the woods" and helping clients.  With his work he enjoyed walking the woods, marking trees to be cut down, and organizing a crew to replant the cleared ground.  He was a Boy Scout during his boyhood years, and in Mississippi he volunteered as a Scoutmaster where he shared his love of outdoors with his troop.

Stan lived his later years at Perry County Nursing Center in Richton, Mississippi while battling Parkinson's Disease.  Even with the impact of this debilitating disease he maintained his perseverance and determination.  His fun-loving, thoughtful, and caring nature was prevalent throughout his entire life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Forrest "Red" Leighton.

Stan is survived by his mother, Dorcas Leighton; two sisters, Sharon (Parker) Peerson adn Jan (Wayne) Becker; five nieces and nephews, Scott Finley (Anna Hamilton), Rachelle (Ryan) Donovan, Julie (Ryan) Coopersmith, Kyle (Brittney) Becker, and Kelsey Becker (Noel Rivera), eight great nieces and nephews; and his beloved companion of twenty years, Nancy Knotts.