Leota Preston

Leota was born on June 12, 1929, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At an early age, she and her family moved to Lubbock, Texas, where she graduated in 1947 from Lubbock High School and later attended business school, with an emphasis on bookkeeping. In Lubbock, she met her future husband, Alvin “Ray” Preston. Leota and Ray married in 1949, and after the births of their three children, Mike, Sheri and Karen, the family moved to Austin, Texas, which became their permanent home.

Leota was an amazing mom and supported her children in every way. In addition to her motherhood role, she worked for Teacher Retirement System of Texas, where she earned a reputation as a talented and dependable employee. Leota was a favorite among her co-workers, and they kept in frequent contact with her long after her retirement. Like her family and other friends, they couldn’t get enough of her sweet nature and playful sense of humor. Leota worked at Teacher Retirement System for 23 years, retiring in 1990.

In retirement, Leota and Ray spent virtually all of their time together. They were inseparable, truly a team of best friends. They traveled to many interesting places, while also taking time to keep up with Mike, Sheri, Karen and their families. They greatly enjoyed their retirement years together. At the time of Ray’s death in 2004, Leota and Ray had been married for 55 years.

Leota was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She always had a smile on her face and loved to laugh. She enjoyed shopping for beautiful clothes and jewelry (first name basis at Dillards), weekly hair appointments a must, playing games (particularly if she won, as she often did in Rummikub (2x champion) and being in the center of the action. Most of all, she loved her family with every fiber in her heart. Being around Leota was truly a joy, and she will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

In addition to her husband, Ray, Leota was recently predeceased by her loving son’s unexpected death, Michael Ray Preston on April 10, 2021.

She is survived by her daughter, Sheri Petzolt, and husband, Marvin of Austin, her daughter, Karen Lowrey, and husband, Kent of Longview, her daughter-in-law, Debbie of Cypress, seven grandchildren who knew her as “Gram” and ten great-grandchildren who called her “Gigi”.

A celebration of her life will be held by the family at Cook Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home 6300 West William Cannon Dr. Austin, Texas with visitation on Friday June 4 from 5 to 6:30 and memorial service Saturday June 5 at 10AM. Interment to follow at Cook-Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery, 14501 N IH 35 Pflugerville, Tx.

Pallbearers: Kent Lowrey, Michael Petzolt, Ryan Preston, Chris Petzolt, Dayton Lowrey, Jonathan Tidmore, and Andrew Nagy

Many thanks to the love and compassion shown to our beautiful mom from the Texas Home Health Hospice nurses and loving caregivers during this most difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Leota’s memory to your favorite charity.