Bessie (Hay) Leonard, 94, Humboldt, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Neosho Regional Memorial Medical Center in Chanute.
She was born Aug. 11, 1920, in Chanute, the daughter of Harry and Bessie (Brownrigg) Hay. The family grew up in Neosho and Woodson counties. She attended Owl Creek Country School in Woodson County and was a graduate of Humboldt High School in 1938. After high school she went to work at H.L. Miller & Son in Iola. On Oct. 18, 1941, she married Calvin Leon Leonard in Iola. They made their home 9 miles west of Humboldt on a farm where they raised six children and lived for 58 years.
They moved to Humboldt in 1999 when her husband became ill. He preceded her in death on June 3, 2001.
She belonged to United Methodist Church. She was active in church, MRB 4-H Club and loved to watch ballgames.
She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening and had a never-ending love for her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin Leonard; a son, Gary Leonard; her parents; two sisters (one her twin) and two brothers.
She is survived by her children, Shirley (Ronald) Murcko, Connie Griffith, Douglas (Linda) Leonard, Nancy (David) Weilert, Brenda (Gary) Leonard and Deborah (Randy) Callahan; 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Humboldt United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Humboldt. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Humboldt United Methodist Church.
Memorial gifts to Humboldt United Methodist Church or Humboldt Food Pantry may be left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Bessie Leonard
