She met the love of her life in Kansas, Tech Sergeant Arthur Lantz Richardson, while she worked in his half-brother’s photography business, and they were married December 12, 1942 in Wichita, Kansas. They were married for 20 years when she lost her husband to a heart attack while he was stationed in Wakkanai on Hokkaido Island in Japan as a Chief Master Sargeant.
The family moved to California in 1951 from Okinawa, Japan where he was stationed for 2 years.
Cleora shared many hobbies including jewelry making, macramé, stained glass and wood cutting to name a few. In 1962 she opened Jane’s Poly Clean on Highland Avenue in San Bernardino.
Cleora, Jane as she was known, served as a foster parent in Colton and served as a Counselor for the Probation Department of San Bernardino County at Juvenile Hall, after graduating from San Bernardino Valley College.
Cleora is survived by her brother Leon “Jimmy” Mitchell of Wewoka, Oklahoma, a son Arthur Leon Richardson of Hesperia, a daughter Nancy Jane Leksen of Rialto, 2 grandsons Aaron Michael Richardson of Lakeside, Eric Laverne Richardson of Victorville, a granddaughter Aubun Louise Stevens of Napa, Idaho, 2 great grandsons Sean and Garrett Stevens of Georgia, 2 nieces and a nephew of Oklahoma.
Jane passed away May 26th at her home in Rialto after celebrating her 98th birthday. She will be truly missed.
