Obituary for Leona Stocking (Rothgeb) Leona Grace Stocking, 97, of Harrison, passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at Masonic Pathways, Alma, Michigan. Leona was born November 9, 1920 in Longton, Kansas, the daughter of Harrison and Hattie (Fields) Rothgeb. Leona graduated from Elk Valley High School, Longton, Kansas in 1939.
On December 10, 1940, in Nevada, Missouri, Leona was united in marriage to the love of her life, Mr. Joseph Carlton Stocking. Joe preceded Leona in death on March 17, 2002 after sixty-one years of marriage. Leona moved to Harrison in 1960 with her husband and their three sons, Gary, Steven and Rodney.
She helped Joe on the Kitty Kurtis ranch that he managed. She had many roles, among them were cooking meals for workers, baling hay and preparing the bunkhouse for guests. In 1969 she became the attendance officer for the Harrison Community Schools and was well known for tracking down students who weren’t in school.
Leona loved time with her family most of all, but she had many hobbies and stayed busy all of the time. She was an avid and excellent gardener, a sewer of beautiful quilts and embroidery, a great cook and baker, and of course a peanut brittle making expert. She found great pleasure in sharing home-baked treats, canned jelly and fresh vegetables with many of her friends, and could often be found outdoors sharing her love for gardening with her grandchildren.
Leona also enjoyed socializing and keeping track of her many friends in Harrison. Leona was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, Harrison for fifty-eight years and a life member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter #408 of Harrison. Surviving Leona is her loving son, Rodney Leo Stocking and wife Elaine of Perry, Michigan, daughter- in -laws, Sharon Stocking and Bernadette Stocking both of Harrison, four grandchildren; Stacy (Karen) Stocking, Joseph Stocking, Morgan (Marshall) Brooks, Eric (Stephanie) Stocking, three great-grandchildren; Hilary Vasher, Miles Brooks and Elsie Stocking, and her First Congregational United Church of Christ family.
Leona also was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard Rothgeb, and two sons; Gary and Steven Stocking. Funeral services celebrating Leona will be held in her honor on Wednesday, June 20th, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. from First Congregational United Church of Christ, 211 W. Spruce St., Harrison with Pastors Vaughn Peterson and Connie Bongard officiating. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, June 19th, 2018 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison and Wednesday, June 20th, 2018 from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.
Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery, Harrison. Memorial gifts in memory of Mrs. Stocking may be considered to: First Congregational United Church of Christ or Clare County Veterans Freedom Park, Harrison. To share an online memory or condolence with Leona’s family, please visit: www.
stockingfuneralhome.com. Arrangements for Mrs. Stocking are entrusted with Stocking Funeral Home, Harrison (989) 539-7810. A special thank you to her caregivers at Masonic Pathways of Alma and to her loyal and loving friends and visitors.
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