Eli Leonard Saleeby

Eli Leonard Saleeby, 76 of Fayetteville passed away on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.

Leonard was born in Wilmington, NC on July 30th, 1940. He was the son of Eli Saliba Saleeby and Callie Ratley Saleeby Stanley and D Leighton Stanley.  He lived in Fayetteville, Wake Forest, and Gastonia before attending Wake Forest College and then entered the US Army. When Leonard returned from the army he moved into the YMCA on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh and enrolled at NC State where he met Elaine Parker and fell in love. After they married he became the patriarch of a large extended family. The Saleeby houses whether in Raleigh, Lake Upchurch or Myrtle Beach were always full of people and food. Leonard and Elaine made friends and turned them into family everywhere they went.

Leonard started a real estate and construction company in Raleigh. After moving to Fayetteville, he became a McDonald’s Owner/Operator. Many of his closest friends were also McDonald’s owners. He believed in forgiveness and taking care of other people and set the example for so many on how to live in a giving and loving way. He loved a lot of folks and they loved him in return. 

Leonard is survived by his wife, Elaine Parker Saleeby; his daughter, Lisa Saleeby Powell; son-in-law, Jon Powell and grandsons, David and Colt Powell. He also leaves his nephew, John Parker and his wife, Mary Beth and their children, Jack and Mary Katherine Parker; his niece, Danielle Wilson and her husband, Greg, their children,  Alexander and Olivia; his niece, Jena Neal and her husband, Carl and her children, Chelsea and Jackson; his niece, Donna Baynor and her children, Ashley and Jacob; a special daughter, Richel Saleeby Stropky and her husband, Joe and their daughter, Matney. Leonard also had several very special grandchildren, Nick Neal, Scott Simmons, Erika Wright, Erica and Victoria Davis, Madison Swanson and the Chirico girls. He is survived by sister in laws, Susan Camaret, Diane Parker, Patsy Groover and Janice Kay Baynor and her husband Wayne; great nieces, Morgan Todd, Sara Broadaway and Tiffany Turner; and a great nephew, Jesse Turner and their beautiful families; plus numerous Saleeby, Ratley and Neal cousins.

We, the family, would appreciate in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Ronald McDonald Houses of NC, the YMCA of the Sandhills or Village Baptist Church. 

Visitation will be Saturday, June 17th at 11 am followed by the service at 1 pm at Village Baptist Church on McPherson Church Road Fayetteville, NC. Burial will follow after lunch at Cross Creek Cemetery.

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