Wednesday, October 21st, 1925 - Sunday, June 12th, 2022
Celebration of Life Service for Leora Newell, age 96, of Kingfisher will be Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 10:00 am at the Ladusau-Evans Chapel with Rev Timothy McCarty and Rev Mike Whitehead officiating. Burial will follow in the New Home Cemetery, Nash, OK under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
The world lost one of its sweetest, most gentle souls on June 12, 2022, with the passing of Leora D. Newell, age 96, (Kingfisher, Oklahoma, formerly from Enid, Oklahoma) from natural causes. Leora was the oldest of seven children born to Stan and Ida (Evans) Strait. She was born October 21, 1925, and grew up on the family farm Southwest of Nash, Oklahoma. It was there that she learned the value of hard work. She attended a little country church where she received a Christian upbringing and was baptized when she was young girl. She graduated from Nash High School in 1943, approximately a year after the United States entered World War II. At the age of 19, Leora traveled to Valero, California on a troop train to marry a hometown boy. Loren Newell was in pilot training while serving in the United States Army Air Corp. Loren and Leora were married December 21, 1945 and were married 63 years at the time of his passing in March 2007.
In 1949, Loren and Leora welcomed their first child into the world. She was a little red headed, spunky girl. Four and a half years later, they had another little brown eyed beauty who was the apple of her mother’s eye.
Leora lived during some interesting times in history. She along with her family survived the dust bowl, the great depression and WWII. She helped with the war effort by working in a battery factory, a clothing factory and she was a real live “Rosy the Riveter” when she worked at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. The war opened new opportunities for women to work outside of the home. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, she was a dedicated worker outside the home while supplementing the family income. Most of Leora’s working life, she used her talents as an Office Manager and bookkeeper for Car and Motorcycle dealerships where she won several awards for her dedication and accuracy for her bookkeeping and accounting duties.
Leora enjoyed many hobbies. She loved to sew and was known for making clothes for her brothers and sisters as well as her daughters and their friends over the years. She was a talented ceramic artist and was known for her detailed painted fowl. She was also a long-time member of the Order of Eastern Star.
Being the oldest of seven, she took to heart, nurtured, and guided her younger siblings with great love. Her family meant everything to her. Among Leora’s greatest joys were her brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She always relished in their accomplishments.
Though Leora faced many challenges in life, she was a woman of immeasurable strength, perseverance, and unwavering faith. She possessed extraordinary compassion and positively influenced the lives of countless people throughout her life.
Leora’s passing has created a painful loss and absence for all who knew and loved her, but we rejoice in her life and journey home to be with her Savior Jesus Christ.
Leora was preceded in death by her husband, Loren Lewis Newell; her parents, Stan and Ida Strait; a sister, Bonnie Buffalo; and three brothers, Joseph Delmar Strait, Francis Marion “Dutch” Strait, Edwin Strait, her son-in-law, Garold Post and one Great-Grandson, Evan Dean Haxton.
She is survived by her children Micha Leah Newell-Post of Kingfisher, OK; Deborah Gae Newell-Scott and her husband Randy of Florissant, Colorado; six grandchildren, Leah Gae Post-Haxton and her husband Greg of Blanchard, OK; Jenny Scott-Coleman and her husband Ron of Colorado Springs, CO; Lanie Post-Lovelace and her husband Steve of Edmond, OK; Holly Scott-Webb and her husband Scott of San Diego, CA; Laun Post of Kingfisher, OK; and Randy Scott and his wife Laci of Colorado Springs, CO; one brother, Harlan Strait of Jet, OK and one sister Charlotte Slaving of Nash, OK. She is also survived by twelve Great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and several life-long friends.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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