Jerad Daniel Leaton, 50, passed away peacefully on August 26th, 2026. He was born on March 27, 1976, in Yokosuka Japan to Franklin Calvin Leaton and Linda Leaton Hensley.

He was someone you always knew exactly where you stood with. If he cared about you, he would do just about anything to help you, and he always seemed to know what needed to be said and when it needed to be said, even when it wasn’t necessarily what you wanted to hear. He was loud, stubborn, and never afraid to make his voice heard. As a father, he poured that same care into his family, while also helping raise and mentor countless young people throughout his life. He taught the value of hard work and believed in giving people the opportunity to prove themselves. His philosophy was simple: take care of your people, and they will take care of you. It was a lesson he lived by, both as a leader and as a friend.

Jerad is survived by his son, Seth Leaton, and Seth’s mother, Rebecca Rodriguez; his mother, Linda Hensley and her husband, Lynn; his siblings, Sean Leaton, Janet Hernandez, and Jaimie Leaton; nephew, Dakota Rarden; niece, Saige Rarden; nephew, Chase Leaton; and his lifelong best friends Jesse Cuevas and James Ramos

He was preceded in death by his father, Franklin Calvin Leaton, and his grandparents, Earl and Gertrude Peppers.

He loved few things more than his family, the Chicago Bears, his animals, and playing video games. More than anything, though, he loved taking care of the people around him. He had a remarkable ability to make people feel that they mattered, and he was known for helping others without hesitation or expecting anything in return. His impact reached far beyond his family, leaving a lasting impression on the many people he helped, taught, encouraged, and believed in. His legacy will live on through those people and the lessons he left with them.