Leon Franklin Archer, 80, of Fulton, NY entered victoriously into God’s perfect rest and peace on Sunday evening, January 31, 2021 at Upstate Community Hospital in Syracuse, NY. Born on January 11,1941 in Watertown, NY, he was the son of Claude Ramon Archer and Bertha Stevenson Archer. As a child he grew up fishing, hunting and trapping in and around Sandy Creek, and was an avid outdoorsman his entire life.
He graduated from Sandy Creek Central School in 1959 and was later honored as a “Graduate of Distinction” by the school in 2012. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 1964, and worked as a teacher and media specialist in the Fulton City School District for 32 years.
He married his lifelong love, Geraldine Mae “Sue” Yerdon on July 22, 1961, in Redfield, NY and together they raised five children, four sons and one daughter.
Leon was an active member of the Fulton Alliance Church, where he lead various ministries, taught Sunday school and served as both a Deacon and a teaching Elder. When one of his sons became the pastor of New Hope Church (Baldwinsville, NY) in 2011, he and Sue became active members of that congregation, and were dearly loved.
Outside of his faith and family, Leon’s greatest passion was the outdoors. He had a special connection with God’s creation and loved to share his passion and knowledge with all who were interested. A contributing author to various outdoor magazines and publications, he was most known locally for his regular column in the (Oswego) Valley News, “The Sportsman’s World.” January 2021 marked the beginning of the 37th year of “The Sportsman’s World.”
He was a respected member and officer of the New York State Outdoor Writer’s Association, and was a six time recipient of NYSOWA’s prestigious “Excellence In Craft” award. In recent years he expanded his writing beyond the outdoors and published two fiction novels, Second Lives (Romance) and The Royal Yorker’s Daughter (Historical Fiction). The latter was based in part on family ancestors who served in the American Revolution.
Leon was preceded in death by his brother Warren Archer. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Geraldine “Sue" Archer; his children, Timothy (Alicia) Archer, Peggy Crosby, Brett (Debra) Archer, Matthew (Rachelle) Archer, Benjamin (Meghan) Archer; his thirteen grandchildren, Will, Tyler, Emily, Anika, Katie, Madison, Annaliese, Sarah, Nathaniel, Taite, Beckett, Sawyer and Savannah; and his sisters Carolyn Morley and Diane Clark.
His life, love and laughter will be deeply missed, and his memory will be dearly cherished.
A public memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 7th, 3pm at the Fulton Alliance Church (Rt 48 Fulton, NY). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Leon’s memory to New Hope Church, 7587 State Fair Blvd. Baldwinsville, NY.
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