LEONA ROSE (WOLDRUFF) OXLEY
LEONA ROSE (WOLDRUFF) OXLEY
Funeral services for Leona Rose (Woldruff) Oxley, age 88, were Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford. Interment was at the Shearer Cemetery in rural Page county. Memorials may be given in Leona’s name. Memories may be shared at www.ritchiefunerlhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Bedford.
Leona Rose (Woldruff) Oxley was born April 29, 1924 in rural Page county, Iowa, the daughter of Orie Elmer Woldruff and Oneita Fern (Brown) Woldruff. She grew up attending country school and graduated from New Market high school in 1943.
On May 5, 1945 she was united in marriage to Lloyd Irvin Oxley. To this blessed union two sons were born, Carrol and Steven. The family lived and farmed south of Bedford in Ross township. Leona raised a large vegetable garden each year along with her flower gardens. She was an excellent cook, with fried chicken being one of her specialties. While on the farm Leona enjoyed the ‘neighborhood club,’ which included several local ladies. She enjoyed visiting, cooking and sewing during these social gatherings which were held once a month, with each lady taking turns hosting the event.
The couple continued to farm until 1972, when she and Lloyd moved to Odebolt, Iowa to work at a cattle ranch and feedlot. They also lived and worked in Grand River, Iowa; Guthrie Center, Iowa; Minatare, Nebraska, and Hannibal, Missouri. In 1985, upon Lloyd’s retirement, they moved to Mount Ayr where they lived the remainder of their lives.
Along with tending to her flower gardens, Leona enjoyed watching soap operas and making crafts. Usually her crafts included flowers that she grew herself. Leona also enjoyed making Christmas candies, with her peanut brittle being the best. In 1985, at the age of 61, Leona received her first driver’s license.
Left to cherish Leona’s memory are her two sons, Carrol Oxley and wife Marilyn of New Market, Iowa and Steven Oxley and wife Carol Lea of Mount Ayr, Iowa; a brother, Robert Woldruff and wife Wanda of Bedford, Iowa; a sister, Marilyn Noble of Kansas City, Missouri; a granddaughter, Nicole; a stepgranddaughter, Lori; two stepgrandsons, Rick and Randy; nine great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren, along with many nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding Leona in death were her husband, Lloyd; her parents; a sister, Darlene Woldruff, and brother-in-law, Charles Noble.
May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn Leona’s passing.
