Leonard Yazzie

Leonard Yazzie

Age 68 

January 25, 1957 – October 14, 2025

Cove, Arizona

Leonard Yazzie of Cove, Arizona, was born January 25, 1957, and passed away peacefully on October 14, 2025, surrounded by family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Hosteen Yazzie and Julie Joe Yazzie, and his brother Gilbert Yazzie.

Leonard is survived by his daughter Rochelle Yazzie, his sister Marilyn Benally & and his brother-in-law Raymond Benally, brothers Alvin Yazzie, Norman Yazzie, Roland Yazzie, Delvin Yazzie, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Leonard has lived in Albuquerque, NM, most of his life. He received his High School Diploma from Valley High School. After that he attended the Technical Vocational Institute (TVI), now called Central New Mexico Community College. He received his Certificate in Automotive Technician. Thereafter, TVI connected him to a job with a dealership, and he dedicated himself to working as an Autobody Technician for 30+ years. He worked in Gallup, NM, Farmington, NM, Phoenix, AZ; however, most of his work history was in Albuquerque, NM. He became friends with many of his coworkers who loved doing the same skills as paint and body work. He became a perfectionist, working on the details of a vehicle.

After he retired, he loved working outside restoring his favorite truck. Most people will remember him in his 1985 Red Chevy pickup truck. He loved making things out of scrap metal or building things. Most people saw it as trash, but he saw things he could make out of them, such as a metal shoe scraper on rainy days so you don’t track in mud inside your home, or a table to hold his tools while he worked outside, or making a hose rack to hold your lawn hose. His last project was cutting a used water heater in half to make a water or food feeder for livestock.

Leonard wasn’t known to relax; he always found projects to keep himself busy. As he got older, he knew he was limited in the things he could do. He was devoted to raising his daughter and spending time with her. He would support all her heart's desires in academics, sports, or hobbies she was involved in. He loved old country music; his all-time favorite was Waylon Jennings. You could hear him blasting his music from his room. Just listening to country music helped him relax and enjoy the life he lived.

Leonard also had a sense of humor that always made his family and friends laugh with his jokes. Everyone knew he was doing ok when he told his jokes. He could remember jokes he had heard from many years ago and kept them going. He would always say, “All my jokes turn back on me!” Referring to him getting older or falling into some of the jokes he told. He will surely be missed by all his family and friends who knew him well.