Obituary for Leora Rhoads

Leora Rhoads, resident of Ponca City, OK, passed away on Friday, March 14, 2014 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital. She was 85.

The funeral service will be held at First Lutheran Church on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 10:00 am, with Rev. Jeremy May, officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, March 16, 2014 from 12:00-8:00 pm and the family will be greeting friends and family at the funeral home on Monday, March 17, 2014 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Leora was born on April 17, 1928 to Lawrence Elmer Lauver and Grace Elizabeth (Fowler) Lauver in Ponca City, OK. She was one of eleven children. She attended grade school at McCord through 8th grade then later attended Burbank Schools where she played on the girls basketball team and graduated from Burbank High School. She was married to Lee Forrest Day in 1946. To this union four children were born. Together Forrest and Leora owned and operated Day Oil Co. until his death in 1972. Leora was a bookkeeper for Day Oil Co.; Howard Discount; JC Penny’s and the Ponca City police dept. At the police department she was the records supervisor until retirement in 1991. Leora married Cecil Rhoads in 1978 and together they enjoyed traveling and fishing until his death in 1993. After that she enjoyed spending time with her club 31 friends. She became a volunteer in 1994 at the hospital, church, Meals on Wheels, and election board as precincts inspector. She was a big sports fan, bowled on leagues, loved camping, fishing, and watching games on tv. Leora especially enjoyed her 10 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and going to their sporting activities. She was a member of First Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her sons, Lee Ross Day and wife Denise; son, Tommy Joe Day and wife Janie; daughter, Ivah Stites; daughter, Gloria Rhoads of Tulsa. 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren. Sister, Irene Davis of Ponca City; Sister, Irma Reading of Enid, OK; sister, Wanda Williams of Lubbock, TX; brother, Bill Lauver and wife Carol of Ponca City; and brother, Gayland Lauver of Georgia.

Preceded in death by mother, father, son; Frank Vern Day; Husbands, Lee Forrest Day and Cecil "Dusty" Rhoads; 2 sisters and 3 brothers

Honorary casketbearers will be Lee Wesley Day, Dusty T. Day, Keaton Ross Day, Steve McHenry, Jared Fisher, Eric Payne, and Henry Harrison.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Lutheran Church Women’s Guild, 1101 N. 4th St., Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home