Ella Jeane Leslie

Ella Jeane (Hays) Leslie was born in Kiowa, Kansas to Opal May (Hardesty) Hays and Clarence Benjamin Hays on a very hot August 8, 1933 and moved to Wichita when she was ten days old. Clarence had to come to Wichita the day before her birth to start a better job with better wages. His new employer was Ella Wible - an aunt of Opal and hence the name Ella. Her mother always wanted her called by both names and never accepted the using of just Ella. She married Earl Franklin Leslie Jr. on Christmas Eve 1950 and gave life to Elaine Kathleen, Kerry Galen, Lori Clarene, and Kevin Earl.

She graduated from Wichita North High School and attended Wichita State University after the four children were older. She accepted a position as substitute secretary for the Wichita Public Schools not meaning to work full time - and went back subbing after her retirement (and a trip to the British Isles) thirty years later. She also worked for three and a half years at Covenant Presbyterian Church as Administrative Assistant before retiring a second time.

She served as an Elder and Clerk of Session in the Presbyterian Church, was president of the Wichita Association of Professional Educational Office Personal, secretary of the Association for Retarded Children, and served on many committees and volunteer positions.

She loved bowling and ice skating until her body rebelled, but always enjoyed a good book and especially a good hockey game, dominoes and cards.

After health problems caused her to give up her driving license, she moved to a congregate apartment at Wichita Presbyterian Manor - moving to assisted living when the new building was completed, where she still enjoyed a busy lifestyle. Even going to lunch once a month with her Hamilton Intermediate School friends, played bridge with old friends several times a month, and belonged to a group that went to lunch one Sunday a month playing Mexican Dominoes all afternoon.

Her sister, Mary, provided assistance and transportation during those years and Ella always felt she earned extra starts in her crown. (And Jack earned a few of his own.)

Ella was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Opal Hays; husband, Earl; daughters, Elaine Kathleen and Lori Clarene; and sister, Rosalie Beard.

She is survived by her sons, Kerry (Theresa) Leslie and Kevin (Lisa) Leslie; six grandchildren, Andrea (Aaron) Kirkpatrick, Rebecca Fouts, Ryan Leslie, Micah Leslie, Robert (Bethanie) Leslie and Danielle Leslie; eight great grandchildren: four great-great grandchildren; sister, Mary (Jack) Davis; and numerous nieces, nephews and many dear friends.

A come and go visitation will be available from 4:00PM to 7:00PM, Monday, June 17th, at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 East 13th Street North, Wichita, Kansas 67206.

Funeral Service for Ella will be held 10:00AM, Tuesday, June 18th, with visitation one hour prior, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1750 North Tyler Road, Wichita, Kansas 67212.

Ella's service will be livestreamed from the church' Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/covenantwichita.org?mibextid=JRoKGi for those of you who are unable to attend in person.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ella's memory can be made to The Good Samaritan Program - Wichita Presbyterian Manor, 4700 West 13th Street, Wichita, Kansas 67212.