Obit of Bell, Leona Mae Flesher - Roger Mills County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Wanda Purcell 2 Oct 2005 Return to Roger Mills County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== Surnames: Bell, Flesher, Clay, Haven, Burtnett, Paolino, Chapman, Moyer, Goetzinger, Covalt, Flowers Originally posted at: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/5YB.2ACE/6271 On March 11, 1913 in the remote New Mexico town of Estancia, a baby girl was born to Ennis Flesher, a 43 old druggist and to Ellen Rebecca Clay, his 19-year-old-bride of one year. The couple named their first born child Leona Mae. Eventually the little family moved back to Ellen's home state of Oklahoma and there in the little rural community of Durham, Oklahoma, Leona spent her childhood and matured to womanhood. A natural bashful and reserved youngster, Leona initially shied away from the attention of an eigh-year-old classmate in the winter of 1923. Undaunted, he sent a valentine and provided a candy bribe to a friend to trade desks this allowing him to sit closer to Leona. Finally as a teenager she relented and agreed to go on a date under the stipulation that he provid a suitable chaperone. On their dates they attended Church together and explored the Antelope Hills with friendss. Perhaps the most memorable date was a trip to the picture show to see the very first film version of Frankenstein which frightened Leona so thoroughly she had to sleep with her mother that night. In spite of this, Leona agreed to marry her admirer and on December 28, 1933 Albert Ezekiel Bell and Leona Mae Flesher were wed in Elk City, Oklahoma. Living during the height of the Great Depression in the heart of dustbowl country was not easy for the newlyweds. They combined the character traits of hard work, frugality and resourcefulness to not only make a living but to gain financial success. During their early years they ran a grocery store in their hometown of Durham. Long hours coupled with physical work made for exhausting days. They gathered all the merchandise for customers (no shopping carts in those days) and added up the purchase with a pencil on Big Chief notebook paper. From their milk cows they had a surplus of cream which they turned into prophet by churning and selling homemade ice cream. There were childbearing years for Leona. Florissa was born April 23, 1936. Carolee was born February 27, 1938 and Darol was born October 10, 1939. With each new child they built a new addition to the back of the store where they lived. This happened so frequently that the very sight of Albert with lumber and nails was enough to make the townspeople raised a questioning eyebrow in Leona's direction. While the children grew older, Albert and Leona moved their family to the farm. Leona was deeply devoted to her family and was the quintessential homemaker and farmers wife of her generation. She planted huge gardens and canned and preserved its bounty. She adorned her meal tables with wild lambs quarter, homemade biscuits, cream gravy, fried quail and sand plum jelly. An accomplished seamstress, Leona made almost all of her children's clothing when they were youngsters. Like most homemakers of this era she carefully selected flour sacks for the print and design of its fabrick and then turned it into clothing for her family. Leona was devoted to her Christian faith throughout her life. During these years Albert and Leona were active members in the Church of Christ. There she was well known for her beautiful alto voice. She woulde lead hymns upon request, often singing espedvcially for the children of the congregation. She was frequently called upon to sing at funerals. Never did a visiting minster come to the Durham Church without receiving a dinner invitation from Mrs. Bell. There was a strong suspicion that this fact alone made the Durham Church a popular choice for visiting preachers. From the mid 1950's to the late 1970's Albert and Leona were in the lumber supply and home building business. Without the benefit of formal instruction, Leona taught herself to draw floor plans and lay bathroom tile that she did for every house that Albert and his workers built during their years of business. When Leona was widowed in 1989, she eventually moved to Gage, Oklahoma to be closer to her daughter. There she continueed her passion for sewing by making quilts, which were nothing short of artistic masterpieces. On one occasion one was exhibited in a museum. She alsdo made quilts for each of her thirteen great-grandchildren. During this time she honored her artistic skills by oil painting several still life portraits and landscapes. She also enjoyed painting delicate pieces of china, most of which she gave away as gifts. She croccheted thousands of coat hangers over the years and there wasn't a single person who came to visit Leona in her home or the nursing home who left without a hanger from her. Leona passed from this life on Thursday, June 29, 2005 at the Grace Nursing Center in Woodward, Oklahoma. Leona will be well remembered for her childlike trust in the basic goodness of people; for her passionate devotion to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and for generous spiurit and pleaant disposition even when things weren't as she might have wanted them to be. She is preceded in death by her parents, a grandson , Randy Haven, her spouse, Albert and her brother Alvin Flesher. She is survived by her three children Florissa Burtnett and her husband Dale of Gage, Oklahoma; Carolee Paolino and her husband Robert of Southington, Connectut and Darol Bell and his wife, Peggy of Abilene, Texasa, eight grandchildren, Diana Chapman and her husband, Terry of Buffalo, Oklahoma; Kris Ann Moyer and her husband, Kenneth of Fargo, Oklahoma; David Goetzinger and his wife Joanna of Kansas City, Missouri, John Paolino of Southington, Connecticut; Jerod Paolino off Southington, Connecticut; Sonya Covalt and her husband Jason of Woodward, Oklahoma; Brent Bell and his wife Sheri of Abilene, Texas and Don Bell of Harrlington, Texas and thirteen great grandchildredn; one sister-in-law, Gertrude Flesher and a dear friend, Sue Flowers. Memorials can be made to the Westview Boys Home 120 W. Broadway Street Hollis, Oklahoma 73550 580-688-9281. Memorial Services were conducted Friday, July 1, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. at the Church of Christ church in Gage, Oklahoma with Ray Don Jackson officiating. Graveside services were held Saturday July 2, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. at the Fairview Cemetery near Durham, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma with the Mason Funeral Home of Shattuck, Oklahoma in charge of arrangements. Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 7-Jul-2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Roger Mills County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/rogermills/rogermills.html