Mourning the death of Leon Emo

Leon Emo and Tami Jo Nix at a community event in Madera. (For The Madera Tribune)

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Yesterday Madera celebrated the life of my colleague and friend, Leon Emo. I first met Leon in 1985 when he owned A-1 Auto Body Shop on N. E Street. I called him to get a price quote on painting a stove and refrigerator for me.

“I suppose you want them painted almond,” Emo asked, as almond was the current favorite flavor for home appliances.

“If I wanted them almond, I would buy them in almond. I want them painted red,” I said.

A couple of months later when I actually got around to buying the appliances, I called him at the body shop to arrange delivery...