Leora Esther Leonard

Leora Esther Leonard was born September 19, 1932, in Clay Center, KS (to use her words, "in mama's bedroom") to Sophia "Sophie" Bletscher Elsasser and Herman Elsasser. She grew up on her parent's farm outside of Clay Center, where she attended and graduated high school. Leora married and went on to have two boys. While her sons were still young, she and their dad divorced. She and the boys then moved to McPherson, KS. Leora worked at the Cedars before being hired as one of the first employees at Sterling Drug (now Pfizer). She dedicated many years there before retiring and beginning her next adventures! She went to Germany with her "Sunflower Sisters" and did a LOT of volunteering with various organizations. Leora volunteered thousands of hours at McPherson hospital for the Hospital Auxiliary. She also volunteered thousands of hours at Trash to Treasure, sewing clothing and stuffed toys/animals for children in developing countries around the world. Volunteering at Trash to Treasure with her wonderful girlfriends there was truly pure joy for Leora! Being the first to arrive each day, she was assigned coffee duty. HA! Soon she was also assigned "plant watering duty" outside the bank where Trash to Treasure met. Seemed she couldn't get enough time with her fellow volunteers! Leora was included in the February 2002 Family Circle magazine about Trash to Treasure. Leora also volunteered thousands of hours at The Down Under Room where she sewed quilts for nursing home residents. She LOVED her work there and was always eager to show her latest projects to her kids and grandkids whenever they visited. You could easily say, Leora's hobbies included volunteering, volunteering, and more volunteering!

Leora was a strong, Christian woman. She loved the Lord and was redeemed by His grace. Leora attended 1st Presbyterian Church in McPherson until she moved to OK to be closer to her children. Leora went to be with the Lord on June 26, 2025, at the age of 92.

Leora is survived by her sister-in-law, Nola Elsasser; her two sons, Steve Leonard and Greg Leonard & wife Susie; her grandchildren, Jessica (Leonard) Wade & husband Caylan, Chad Leonard & wife Allie, and Charla (Leonard) Magruder & husband Sultan; great-grandchildren, Colton Wade, Collins Wade, Layla Magruder, and Lillian Leonard; step-grandsons, Bobby Lindamood & wife Tami, and Billy Lindamood & wife Kim; step great-grandchildren, Harper Lindamood, Reagan Lindamood, and Braden Lindamood; very special, dear friends, Charlene Rudman, Jeanne Swick, and Patsy Magelssen; as well as many, many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Sophia (Bletscher) Elsasser; brother and sister-in-law, Chris and LaUna Elsasser; sister Myra, who passed in infancy; brothers, Harold Elsasser, Duane "Butch" & wife Carole Elsasser; sister and brother-in-law, Loretta and Lyle Hafner; and daughter-in-law, Debbie Leonard.

A celebration of Leora's life will be held at the 1st Presbyterian Church, 602 Clarke St, Clay Center, KS, Tuesday, July 1 at 10:30a.m. Her family and friends will serve as honorary pallbearers.

As we celebrate her sweet life, in lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to the 1st Presbyterian Church, 1400 Main St, McPherson, KS 67460-1902. We feel there is no better way to honor her than by doing something for the Lord whom she loved so dearly!

Local arrangements were "Entrusted to" Hale's Funeral Home of Sulphur.

Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.