Leroy Harper, 86, of Dawsonville, died April 17, 2017.

He loved working on old cars and was a Little League baseball coach and key supporter when Dawson County first began to develop its Parks and Recreation Department.

An Air Force veteran, he was also a member of the Etowah Masonic Lodge No. 222 F&AM. He had worked at Lockheed in Marietta and Dawsonville, Tennessee Valley Authority, Pelfrey Harper Contractors, as a building inspector for Dawson County and, most recently, Etowah Water.

His parents, Otis and Willi Harper of Mineral Bluff; sisters, Geneva Henson and Regina Pelfrey of Dawsonville; and brothers, Cecil Harper and Micky Harper of Mineral Bluff, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 63 years, Dude Harper; children, Ann Sheffield, Sherry Allen, Rudy Harper, Greg Harper, all of Dawsonville; one brother, Gary Harper of Morganton; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; various other relatives also survive.

A memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. April 27 at Bearden Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations were requested made to the Dawson County Park and Rec Youth Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 808, Dawsonville, GA 30534.

Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville was in charge of the arrangements.