Leona Mae (Hause) Hunt

Leona Mae (Hause) Hunt, 80, of Wamego, Kansas, went to join her heavenly family with her earth family by her side on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at the Westy Community Care Home, Westmoreland, Kansas. Leona was born June 13, 1933 on the family farm to Clarence “Bill” and Viva Mae (Flinn) Hause near Wheaton, Kansas. She was only three pounds when she was born. The family always told the story of how she survived. Her grandmother Flinn was nursing her uncle Merle who was from September to June older, was a wet nurse of her until her mother could start feeding her. She was carried around on a pillow, kept warm on the warming oven of the wood stove and wore her father’s white handkerchiefs as her diapers. She was born without fingernails, eye lashes or brows. She attended one room schools until going to “town” school from the 8th grade on. She graduated from Westmoreland Rural High School in 1952. On August 22, 1954, Leona married the love of her life Hal S. Hunt at the Westmoreland United Methodist Church. Right after the wedding, Hal and Leona left for Aniston, AL, where Hal was stationed in the Army. After Hal was discharged, they moved back to Manhattan, KS, where their daughter was born. They then moved to St. George in 1956 and lived there until 1977 when they moved to Wamego. Leona enjoyed bowling, camping, fishing and trips to Branson, MO. In her later years she enjoyed going on family heritage hunts with her daughter. Leona was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Wamego, International Coachmen Caravan, Chapter 97 Tri-Rivers Coachmen, and the Mayflower chapter of the DAR of Iowa. She was a former member of the Dutch Mill WBA, Manhattan-Wamego USBC WBA, the Wamego Dutch Mill bowling league and a number of other bowling leagues in both Wamego and Manhattan. She received her grand duchess award from the Kansas State USBC WBA in 2004. She was also a former Cub Scout den mother for Pack 123 at St. George, even though she didn’t have a son. Hal, Leona and Malissa were coaches for the youth bowling program in Wamego before the center closed. She loved working and being with children. For a short time after high school, she worked in the office of the Pottawatomie County Treasurer. After her daughter started school, she started cleaning houses in Wamego and Manhattan. In 1982, she started an in home child care, where she helped raise her four kids; Casey and Brady Donnelly and Adrianne DeWeese and Audra DeWeese-Adams. To her passing day, they were her kids and always enjoyed hearing the latest news about them. She also worked for Dick Edwards Ford, driving cars. Leona is survived by her daughter: Malissa Hunt, of Wamego, KS; her Uncle Wesley and his wife Florence Flinn, of Manhattan, KS; her Aunts: Lila Flinn, Wamego, KS, Rachel Oaks, Brick, NJ and Marlene Flinn, St. George, KS; and numerous cousins and her camping family. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Hal on August 18, 1999. Funeral services for Leona will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 3, 2013, at the Stewart Funeral Home, Wamego. Burial will follow in the Wamego City Cemetery. A visitation for Leona will be held prior to her service beginning at 9:00 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wamego First United Methodist Church, Bell Choir, or the Westy Community Care Home and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.