Leta Fay [Mark] Hamilton 1908-2009

MARK, HAMILTON, HAGAN, MOORE, KELLER, JUDD, GROOMS, TENNYSON, FENIMORE, MARTIN, NEINAS, SCOTT, GRIFFIN, FLORA

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 1/17/2010 at 09:46:06

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa January 6, 2010)

HAMILTON, Leta Fay, 101, of Leon, Iowa, died December 26, 2009 at Westview Acres Care Center. Funeral services were held December 31 at Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home in Leon with Rev. Max Carmichael officiating. Burial was in Hamilton Cemetery near Pleasanton, Iowa.

Memorials may be given to the Leon Library League or to Hamilton Cemetery.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa January 6, 2010)

LETA FAY HAMILTON ... Leta Fay Mark Hamilton, youngest daughter of Lawrence and Mirtis Loretta [Hagan] Mark, was born February 23, 1908 on the family farm east of Pleasanton in Mercer County, Missouri. Leta died at age 101 on December 26, 2009 at Westview Acres Care Center.

Leta attended the country schools of Cavanaugh and Oak Seminary, and high school at Pleasanton. Leta spent her entire life in Mercer County, Missouri and Decatur County, Iowa.

On August 5, 1925 she married Roscoe John Hamilton. They became parents of 5 children: Donald Eugene, Cecile Mirtis, Darrell Dean, Annis Loretta and Helen Irene.

Preceding Leta in death were her parents; husband Roscoe in January 1968; two sons, Donald in 1992 and Darrell in 2005; daughter Annis in 2008; two sisters, Bernice Moore and Alice Keller; two brothers, Lee Mark and Myles Mark; 5 grandchildren; JC Judd, Michael Judd, Thad Hagan, Peggy Jo Hamilton, and Melody Grooms; one great granddaughter, Faith Hagan; and one son-in-law, Tom Tennyson.

She is survived by two daughters, Cecile (Chester) Judd of Lineville, Iowa and Helen Hagan Tennyson of Cainsville, Missouri; daughters-in-law Jeanne Hamilton of Cainsville and Darlene Hamilton of Leon; and her grandchildren: Larry (Sheila) Hamilton, Alan (Brenda) Hamilton, Sandra Alexander, Beverly (Brad) Fenimore, Carolyn (Speed) Martin, Debi Moore, Georgia Neinas, Mark (Kelli) Judd, Kenny (Peggy) Hamilton, Joyce (Bill) Scott, Gregory (Lois) Hamilton, Susan (Larry) Griffin, Rocky (Nonette) Flora, Edward Flora, Michael (Stacy) Flora, Tony Flora, Donald Flora, Shane (Linda) Grooms, Sonja Grooms, Randal Hagan, Rex Hagan, and Travis Hagan. She has 52 great grandchildren and 49 great great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

REMEMBERING LETA ... Leta was very independent and determined, a Christian lady who relied on the Lord. she was a wife, mother of 5, grandmother of 27, and the matriarch of a family which continued to grow as the years went along.

She was a lady who saw many changes, yet adapted well. Raising 3 children during the Depression, which called for extreme measures to survive. for example: cooking on a wood stove, making clothing from feed sacks, washing clothes with a wringer washer and washboard, and even making her own soap. In addition to her household chores, Leta assisted in all of the farm chores with Rock such as canning hundreds of quarts of fruits, vegetables, and meats; milking cows and cooking for threshing crews.

As time went on, Leta had two more children and began working outside the home. she clerked in a grocery store, nurses' aide, and dietitian at Decatur County Hospital, finally retiring at age 72.

Among her hobbies were a love of travel, scrapbooking, keeping a personal diary, quilting,and reading. Leta was one of Leon Library's most frequent customers. Leta thoroughly enjoyed square dancing, a love she passed down to successive generations. Her last dance was at a great grandson's wedding, when Leta was well in her 90's.

She was active in church and Bible study. Leta was member of Pleasanton Methodist Church, Davis City churches,a and the Calvary Baptist Church in Leon. She was a great prayer warrior; one grandson, Rex, said "tell Grandma to pray - her get answered."

Her later years were hard to cope with, as her active life was reduced by health and age issues. The death of three adult children were a blow she survived but caused her a great deal of grief.

Leta loves family gatherings, weddings, and birth of new grand babies. For awhile she ordered three great grandchildren a year and fully expected that to happen. She lived her life to the fullest, created many memories, and passed on a legacy of hard work, faith, and love of family.