Leslie Jay Lynn Arkabauer

2001 ∼ 2022

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Leslie Jay Lynn Arkabauer, 21, of Dayton, TX, went to be with the Lord on Friday, December 16, 2022. Leslie was born to Louis Armstrong Jr. and Tavasha Arkabauer on November 17, 2001 in Cleveland, TX.

Leslie was vibrant, beautiful, out spoken, and never cared about anyone’s opinion. She was the meanest sweetest person you would ever meet. When Leslie stepped into a dark room, you could see the light in her that made her so special. She always loaded up to go on any adventure someone was going on. Leslie gets that from her mama, she was always loading up to go places too. She loved to go go go... Her mama did too. Leslie loved the drama and all the attention that went with it. She was a young mom, but a great mom. Her babies were her everything. She always made sure her babies were safe and protected from anything that would come at them. Everyone loved her. She loved to be the center of attention. She loved wearing bright red lipstick, wearing no bra, and the color blue. If she loved you, she loved you for life no matter what. Leslie was a ray of sunshine on a beautiful day and other times she was like a match, one strike and she'd burn the house down. Our world will never be the same with her gone, but her memories will live on forever. Leslie’s vibrancy shined everywhere she went, she was extremely full of life. She will be loved and missed by all who knew her. #FOREVER 21

Leslie is preceded in death by her grandparents, Mary Smith, FredDee Meche, Barbara Smith, Staci Loffet, Louis Armstrong Sr.; uncles, Jay Young, Buddy Weaver, Frankie Weaver, Justin Banning, Tracy Banning; and best friend, Kami Kabernik. Those left to cherish her memory are her father, Louis Armstrong Jr. and wife Kristina Davidson of Montgomery, TX; mother, Tavasha Arkabauer of Dayton, TX; ; other dads, George Banning III of Liberty, TX, Clyde Fregia and wife Desiree of Oakdale, LA; boyfriend, Sergio Valdez of Dayton, TX; son Jacob Valdez of Dayton, TX; daughter, Kamill Valdez of Dayton, TX; grandparents, Jerry Meche of Devers, TX, Odice Smith and wife Tanda of Dayton, TX, Mark Marsh Jr. and wife Mona of Quincy, MI, and Georgia and husband Lee Simon; in-laws, Danny and wife Kathy Tidwell of Dayton, TX; aunts, Sammi Marsh of Michigan, Heaven Pann and husband Josh of Evadale, TX, Tommi Tate of Mississippi, Patience Beitz and husband Jason of Hull, TX, Hannah Wright of Dayton, TX, Jazimen Smith of Dayton, TX, Mandi Smith and husband Chucky of Dayton, TX, Casey Trine of Dayton, TX, Charlie Smith of Dayton, TX, Jolena Marsh of Michigan, Jennifer Sanders and husband Chris of Daisetta, TX, Tina and husband John Perkins of Louisiana, and Nicki Strahm and husband Keith of Liberty, TX; uncles, Mark Marsh III and wife Casey of Dayton, TX, Bishop Smith and wife Rebecca of Harleton, TX, Frank James of Fort Worth, TX, and Jeremy Welch of Liberty, TX; brothers, Austin Arkabauer of Dayton, TX, Kris Kreuzer of Liberty, TX, Conner Armstrong of Dayton, TX, Chase Davidson of Montgomery, TX, and Austin Davidson of Montgomery, TX; sisters, Savanna Armstrong of Dayton, TX, Maddison Fregia of Oakdale, LA, Mackenzie Clare of Montgomery, TX, and Haley Armstrong of Dayton, TX, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and a host of family and friends.

A Service of Remembrance will be held on Friday, December 23, 2022 at Faith and Family Funeral Chapel in Batson, TX at 2:00 pm with Reverend Cody East officiating. Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on Friday, December 23, 2022 at Faith and Family Funeral Chapel in Batson, TX at 12:00 pm til service time. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Liberty, TX.

Honoring Leslie as pallbearers are Bishop Smith, Odice Smith, Chase Davidson, Austin Davidson, Caden Coffin, and Chris Sanders. Honorary pallbearers are Charlie Smith and Austin Arkabauer.

Memorial Video

Condolences

Anonymous January 19, 2023

Faith & Family Funeral Services created a Tribute Video in memory of Leslie Jay Lynn Arkabauer

Jennifer Villermin December 24, 2022

Leslie Jay Lynn Arkabauer

Alma Villarreal December 22, 2022

I'll always love you Leslie! I was your LaLa and you were my Butt Munch. We spent a lot of time together the first 3 years of your life. You stole my heart! God be with the Arkabauer and Armstrong families.

Gary Tyler December 20, 2022

We love you!

Dana Armstrong December 19, 2022

I don’t even know where to start with this other than from the beginning. I held you for the first time when you were 2weeks old. Such a sweet baby with those little chubby cheeks. When MawMaw saw you ,…I was holding you. Lol I had no problem telling people they could wait their turn. By the time you learned to crawl anytime you were in my presence you would crawl your way straight to me. Anytime MawMaw went to visit y’all I better not have plans for when we left cause I knew you would be going home with me. Your momma kept your little backpack packed most of the time cause you would grab it whether it was empty or full and put them arms up and look at your MawMaw and say “ I go wid you MawMaw” 😭 with the sweetest little voice. Melted mawmaw’s heart every time . I nicknamed you Stanky and when I would say you was stanky you would laugh until you cried. I can’t count the times you would tell me in the check out line at the store “ MawMaw boon” And you would have people thinking I was being mean by making you call me MawMaw . You got to remember that MawMaw was much younger than your pawpaw so you made me a MawMaw at the ripe old age of 29 lol. But I don’t regret a second of it lol. The impact you left on MawMaw’s heart I will cherish for the rest of eternity . Stanky you were, you are, and forever will be so loved by so many … And without a doubt you will never be forgotten. You save your MawMaw a seat in that mansion cause we all gonna see you again there ❤️ I love you sweet girl. Rest easy … until we meet again 🙏🏽🙏🏽 Tavasha, savanna , skippy , Austin , Heaven and Josh and the rest of the family …. There are no words to make this easy just know that I’m praying for y’all and that I love y’all. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Jennifer Bledsoe December 19, 2022

I'm so sorry for the loss for the family my prayers are with all in this tragic moment

Dalton Lawrence December 18, 2022

Q: What 3 words best describe Leslie and why? A: Loving stubborn and crazy.. Leslie was always the light in a dark room.. trying to make others smile even when she was sad.. I’ll forever hold onto our memories.. you were the sweetest meanest kid and my childhood is filled with memories of fun and joy with you😢 I’ll hold onto that for the rest of my life.. I’m praying for your mom savanna skippy and the rest of your family🙏🏽 love you my beautiful niece♥️ say hi to your pawpaw for me #forever21 #Rip

Amber Evans December 18, 2022

Knowing that you are no longer here with us will forever be heavy on my heart you were the most hard headed, stubborn, craziest person I knew and yet you still had a good heart. I can’t believe you won’t be here to meet my babies or call anytime you just needed a talk, I love you and miss you everyday!

Mary And Jason Turner December 18, 2022

Reminding those whom you support that your thoughts are with them.

Patience Beitz December 17, 2022

Babygirl.. Where does your Daddy Aunt Pae even start?! You were like one of my own at times. I can't recall all of the times you'd just jump in my car no matter where I was going or what I was doing, you were going with me. You get that from your mama, she was always loading up to go with me too. You loved to go go go.. She did too. You were such a sweet soul. Ryan is so shattered by your passing, and to hear her say you were like a big sister to her and now she's not gonna have one anymore broke my heart. I knew she loved you, but I never knew she looked at you that way. I've been scrolling through pictures and Facebook memories and there's so many. It's so hard to choose a favorite. I don't want to have to choose. I am so sorry. I love you so much.. Ryan loves you too. I just want you to come running up to me and say "Daddy, I need this" or "Aunt Pae! I got my balls back!" 🤣💔😭 (Nobody will ever understand that line except for you, Savanna, Tavi, Isaiah, Jed, Neveah, Ryan and I.. Remember that? It was a Walmart trip) 🤦🤣.. God Leslie, what do any of us do without you?! How do we go on living?! You weren't supposed to go yet, you had your whole life ahead of you and two beautiful babies who still needed their mama. I'm so greatful for all of the times we've had together. For all of the memories we've made. For all the times you spent with me, the talks we've had.. For all the times you joined in on my shannanigans without knowing what you were signing up for. I love you. I love the way you had to be the center of attention sometimes. I love that you loved bright red lipstick and wearing no bra and the color blue. I love how you loved your babies, and everyone else you considered friend or family. I love that you loved those crazy looking fingernails. I love how you could walk into a room and each time would be a surprise emotion because you were either going to be loud and obnoxious or happy and upbeat or mad and wreck shop. I love that you spoke your mind and didn't care who didn't like it. I love that you loved so hard. But most of all, I love that you loved Ryan and I the way you did. I only wish that I could hug your neck one more time. I'd tell you how much you meant to me, to Ryan, to all of us. You were the light so many of us needed at times. I hope you knew that. You were so beautiful and you knew it. You were a ray of sunshine on a beautiful day and other times you were like a match, one strike and you'd burn the fucking house down. But that's what made you, you.. You were the very meaning of vibrant and carefree. You were so much more than my niece, you were my saving grace when I was fighting for Ryan. You saved me Leslie and I never told a soul. You kept me from going to dark places, just because you would always tell me it would all be ok. And I'll never be able to thank you enough. You got me a ticket a time or two (lol) but you still saved me. Just by being you. My world, our world will never be the same with you gone. You should be here. I miss you so much already. But I know you're at peace now. There's so much more that I want to say. I just. Im doing my best to stay strong for your mom, my wife. She needs me right now. Give my Gramma and everybody else a hug for me, for all of us. Ok? Heaven is definitely more beautiful for having you there. Until I see you again, I'll be missing you. I'll love you always. 💔Forever 21💔

Stormey Howard December 17, 2022

I love you so much I wish this was a dream but your really gone I'm lost for words we had some great memories together and I'm glad I got to call you my best friend/sister fly high babygirl and watch over us 🕊️🕊️ save me a spot next to you up there I'll see you one day it's not good bye it's see you later I hope you're daceing up there with the angels 😇🕊️🙏

Lori December 17, 2022

My sweet babygirl I love u always and forever. I am gonna miss your smile and them big hugs every time I see u. I will miss ur jokes and the little small talks. Most importantly I am gonna miss u tremendously. To tay and the rest of the family I am deeply sorry for ur loss. I will praying for all of u. If there is anything I can do plz let me know. Love all of u with all my heart.