Leona Marie Burton

She experienced her childhood upbringing in the city of El Reno, Oklahoma where she attended Booker T. Washington School.

She lived there until she met and married Harold Burton in 1956. They moved to Topeka, KS and started a family, where they shared 3 children. They both worked for the US Government as civil servants. The marriage dissolved after 10 years.

Being the hard-working and determined woman Leona was, she moved to Wichita, KS where she was employed in the aircraft industry working at Beechcraft and Cessna.

She started her work career with the US Postal Service in Oklahoma City OK, transferring to St. Louis, MO and then relocating to Marina Del Ray, CA. She continued her career with the US Postal Service in California where she eventually retired with an "Early Out" offer in 1992. While in California she enjoyed traveling the world.

Leona was best known for her hard work ethic, which was instilled into her daughters. She was a no-nonsense mother who taught her daughters to be independent, strong and honest taxpaying citizens. She was very good with numbers and had a cunning ability to manage money.

After living in California for many years, Leona relocated to Honolulu, HI which was one of her greatest desires, and began working at the Gold Building in the distribution department. She continued to work for more than 20 years in the beautiful state of Hawaii, until her health began to fail her. Colorectal cancer eventually overcame her on October 3, 2020.

Leona was preceded in death by her Mother-Maxine Brothers-Sanders of El Reno, OK; her daughter-Regina Palmer of Wichita, KS; her grandson Michael Palmer Jr. of Wichita, KS; her uncle Samuel Brothers of Guthrie, OK; her aunts-Opal Steigers of Guthrie, OK; Mildred Pickett of Oklahoma City, OK; and a host of cousins and relatives.

Leona leaves to mourn her death two daughters-Vanessa Nicholson of Oklahoma City, OK; Adrianne Gaines (husband Richard) of Oklahoma City, OK; nine grandchildren-Lucretia Palmer of Oklahoma City, Ok; Shyla Palmer of Oklahoma City; Sherita Burton of Wichita, KS; Michael Palmer Jr. of Wichita, KS (deceased); Melonie Palmer of Wichita, KS; Maya Mason (husband Garion) of Goldsboro, NC; Martine Cherry (husband Mike) of Boston, MA; Latasha Kendrick Palmer (wife Rica) of Houston, TX; Tony Palmer Jr. (wife Jaime) of Columbia, MO; and a host of great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; her aunts- Davetta Brothers of Wichita KS; Jonella Brothers of Oklahoma City, OK; and special mention, her cousin- Dr. Landis Powell (wife Jackie) of Edmond, OK; and a host of cousins, and other relatives and friends.

The family would like to take this time to send a heartfelt thank you to her foster caregivers over the last years- Gilbert Julian, Lorena Laforga and Ligaya Bercasio, as well as the Dr. Suen and all the health professionals at Pali Momi Medical Center and Queens Medical Center, as well as Andrew Leitheiser -realtor, and Lambert at Queen Emma Gardens.

Ashes to be scattered over the ocean at a later date.