Leonel Agado Leal ,92, also known as “Jone” or “Johnny Leal”, passed at Valley Baptist Medical Center on Tuesday, April 21, 2020, after battling heart problems the past few years. He was born to Consuelo Leal Huerta in La Paloma, Texas and was raised by Guillermo “Willie” and Rosa Leal. He worked in the fields and was known as a “quinientero” meaning he could pick 500 lbs. of cotton in one day. Later he owned a truck and would take people to the fields. Wanting to better himself, he attended TSTC in Harlingen earning his GED and learning to weld. He went to work at Marathon at the Port of Brownsville. Years later, he built Johnny’s Country Store in 1982 in La Paloma and has served the community for 38 years. He retired several years ago leaving the store to his son Rosendo. Leonel had a kind heart; he would let people get groceries on credit until they could repay him. He would encourage us to pitch in money and buy stuff to raffle to raise money for someone in need. Leonel was the unofficial keeper of the La Paloma Cemetery, people would sometimes go and ask him if they could bury their loved ones there. He also paid to have a large metal sign at the cemetery. Leonel cared about his family and was always looking for way to help. He is preceded in death by his wife, Manuela Abrego Leal; his mother, Consuelo Huerta; and parents, Guillermo “Willie” and Rosa Leal. Leonel is survived by his sons, Leonel (Nelda) Agado and Rosendo (Sulema) Agado; daughters, Gloria (Ismael) Flores, Elvira Cruz, Hermelinda (Ismael) Luna, Rebecca (Art) Infante, and Genoveva Martinez; 18 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brothers, Lalo Huerta, Chuy Huerta, Erasmo Huerta, and Jose Garcia; sisters, Petra Contreras, Berta Meza, Margarita Huerta, Evangelina Maldonado, and Linda Huerta; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks to his granddaughter, Sonia Flores, for going above and beyond helping the family with Dad. Also, thanks to Tio Erasmo and Janie Huerta for always checking up on Dad and helping with whatever he needed, and his friend, Rigo, who helped the last few months at the house. A private service will be held. You may sign the online guestbook and send words of comfort or sympathy cards to the family of Leonel Agado Leal at: www.thomaegarza.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Home and Crematory, 395 S. Sam Houston Blvd., San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.