Virginia K. Leete

Liberal KS ˜ Virginia K. Leete, 89, Liberal, KS, died Monday, September 20, 2010 at her home. ˜˜ She was born July 3, 1921 at Cedar Creek, MO, the daughter of Thomas & Marie Wolf Gray. ˜ She graduated from Montrose, MO High School in 1938, and attended Central Missouri State College, Warrensburg, MO. ˜Virginia worked Missouri Aviation Institute as a secretary.˜ She married R. J. Leete on June 20, 1942 in Albuquerque, NM, later living in Memphis & Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY and San Diego, CA.˜ Following the war she came to Liberal, working for the Southwest daily Times, KSCB Radio and was a substitute teacher in the Liberal schools. ˜ Virginia was very active in many civic & community organizations, a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, served on the board and winning several awards of the Kansas Press Women,˜ named KPW Woman of Achievement in 1981, was instrumental in establishing the Liberal Art Association and Baker Arts, the Jaycee Jaynes, the Seward County Historical Society, Republican Women's Club, helped organize the Humane Society, served on the Foundation Board of Seward County Community˜ College for twenty-two years and also served one term as president,˜ received No. 1 Ambassador of the Chamber of Commerce twice, and also the Merit Award. She and her husband were chosen Southwest Daily Times Citizens of the Year in 1999. and a member of the Pancake Campers Club. ˜She was on the board of directors of Pancake Day working on publicity over fifty years, since it started in 1950,˜ when she and her husband started the Liberal-Olney pancake race. ˜ She is survived by five sons, Tracy Leete and wife Cindy, Albuquerque, NM; Steven Leete, Liberal, KS;˜ Charles Leete III and wife Beverly; Rose Hill, KS;˜ James Leete and wife Esther, Wichita, KS;˜ one daughter, Rebecca Leete, Kechi, KS; one brother, Wayne Gray, Ocala, FL; two sisters, Wilma Hickox, Lenexa, KS; Nita Kitson, Oklahoma City, OK; twelve grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren˜ and two great-great- grandchildren.˜ She was preceded in death by husband, parents and daughter Linda Coffman. ˜˜ Memorial service will be conducted 5:00 P.M. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. David Randall officiating. ˜˜ In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Pancake Day, Inc., Angeles for Animals, or Seward County Community College, in care of Miller Mortuary. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Virginia K. Leete please visit our Sympathy Store.