Blanche (Houlette) Allen Leese (1955)

ALLEN, HAHN, HAYES, HOULETTE, LEESE

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 7/18/2007 at 17:46:14

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, April 20, 1955
Page 4

BLANCHE LEESE DIES IN FLORIDA

Nationally Known Figure in W.R.C. Was Former Resident Here

Mrs. Blanche Houlette Leese, formerly a prominent Winterset woman, died Monday, April 11 at her home in Miami, Fla., according to word received here this week. She was 76 years of age.

Mrs. Leese was born in Winterset, a daughter of Louis S. and Martha McNeley Houlette. Her early life was spent in the field of education as she taught school for 19 years, including the Winterset grades, rural school near Penn Center in this county and later at North Henderson, Ill.

She was married to Clint V. Allen in 1907. Their married life was spent in Madison county and at North Henderson until his death in 1926.

In 1928 she was married to John A. Leese. They lived at Boone until his death occurred in 1932 after which she moved to Florida to be near her sisters.

Mrs. Leese was a national figure in the Woman's Relief corps, having served as national field officer, department president and at the time of her death had been secretary of the Miami unit for 10 years. She was always active in the club and civic affairs of the communities in which she lived.

Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Grace Houlette Hahn and Mrs. Lois Houlette Hayes, both of Miami, Fla., and a brother Calvin J. Houlette of Bellflower, Calif.

Funeral services were held April 13, from the Boulevard Christian church with the Rev. I. S. Packard in charge and the Rev. E. L. Wiedenmann assisting. Burial was made in Miami Memorial Park cemetery.