James Leon Ensley

Mr. James Leon Ensley, 81 of Mt. Pleasant, entered into his eternal home on Monday, August 18, 2014 at the Tucker Hospice House. Memorial service will be 11:00am, Wednesday, at St. John's Lutheran Church, officiated by Rev. Dr. Mark Ericson. The Ensley family will receive friends from 5-8pm Tuesday evening at St. John's Lutheran Church. Leon was born August 21, 1932 in Gaston County, son of the late Lewis Ensley and Ruth Kee Ensley. He received a BS Degree at Pfeiffer College, and later received two masters degrees, from NCA&T and Appalachian State University. Leon played baseball and basketball in High School and was drafted to play baseball as a pitcher following high school. His sports career interrupted when he was drafted by the Army. Following his return he played AAA baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, ending his baseball career in Omaha, NE. He began his teaching career in 1959 with the Cabarrus County Schools, teaching at Hartsell School and Mt. Pleasant High School. During his tenure he served as football, basketball, baseball coach for middle and high school. After retirement, returned back to the classroom to teach Drivers Education. He enjoyed fishing at his home at Holden Beach and playing golf, and always had a good joke and story to tell. His favorite pastime was being with his family and especially children and his grandchildren. He was a active member of St. John's Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday School for many years and served on church council. He was preceded in death by a son James Barry Ensley also brothers Harold Ensley, Floyd Ensley and sister, Theresa Holder. He is survived by his wife of 57 years Ann Hopkins Ensley, daughter, Beth Downs and husband Mike, grandchildren, Erin Yow (Daniel), Grayson Downs fiancée Jessica Dinkins , Ethan Ensley, and Marie Ensley fiancée Seth Burris, great grandchildren, Talyn Phillips, Braylyn Phillips, Jaxon Yow, sister, Frances Carter of Spartanburg, SC and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to extend a special thanks to all the staff members of Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County during Leon's declining health. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church, 100 St. John's Church Rd., Concord, NC 28025, Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28083 or the Mt. Pleasant High School Boosters Club, PO Box 925., Mt. Pleasant, NC 28124