Leonel Mendez age 10 of Dardanelle died Friday, August 29, 2014 Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. He was born March 21, 2004 at Russellville, Arkansas to Mario and Celia Avila Mendez. He was a member of St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Dardanelle and attended Dardanelle public schools. Leonel loved to talk, smile, listen to music and give love to everyone he met. One of his favorite things to do was getting to ride the jaguar bus and play his trumpet. He was preceded in death by one grandfather, Genaro Avila. Survivors include his parents, Mario and Celia Avila Mendez, two brothers, Jesus Mendez and Mario Jesus Mendez both of Dardanelle; grandparents, Lazara Gimenez, German Mendez, Josefina Tepoxteco and many other relatives, teachers and friends. Services will be held at 11:00AM Monday, September 1, 2014, at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Dardanelle with Father James Melnic officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday starting at 10:00AM with a Rosary starting at 7:00PM at Cornwell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in Brearley Cemetery at Dardanelle. Pallbearers will be Jesus Mendez, Mario Jesus Mendez, Robert Vogler, Charles Rector, Efrain Avila, Kent Barnes, Lynn Sigle, Aris Ortiz. Honorary Pallbearers will be Pete Kelly, Jacky Hopkins, Arvil Sims and the teachers, staff and students of Dardanelle Schools. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Leonel Mendez funeral expense fund, c/o Cornwell Funeral Home, 207 Quay Street, Dardanelle, Arkansas 72834. The family request that anyone attending the funeral service to please wear yellow. Arrangements are by Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle. Online Guest Book and Condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com.