Lela Ann Schlehuber

Lela was born at Newkirk, Oklahoma on September 14, 1938 to Jefferson “Jeff” Hooper and Mary Irene Corrie. Her sister Blenda was born eighteen months later. The family lived in Pueblo, Colorado before moving to settle in Pasco, Washington where Jeff established a farm.

Lela attended high school and also received an AA degree from Columbia Basin College in 1955. She transferred with her AA to Washington State University, securing her Bachelor’s degree in ‘Home Economics & Teaching’.

Lela married Roy A. Schlehuber, son of Harry and Cora Schlehuber of Wildcat Lake, Washington. Roy and Lela met through a matching service and married in 1963. They settled on land at Wildcat Lake, across the road from Roy’s parents. Lela enjoyed a long career teaching at middle schools including: Finley, Givens and with the majority at Fairview Junior High schools. Roy and Lela also maintained a Christmas tree farm that Roy’s dad started, called Gold Creek Tree Farm. They supplied trees to the local area as well as ran a tree lot in West Seattle for a number of years.

Roy passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2015. After taking care of Roy through his last days, Lela decided to move to Bellingham, Washington to be closer to her sons, Eric and Jupe, and her sister Blenda. She lived in Bellingham from 2016 until her death.

Lela is preceded by Jeff and Mary Hooper, and survived by her sister Blenda Jones, her sons Eric Schlehuber and Jupe Johnson, as well as Blenda’s adult children, Helen Zimmerman and Dusty Jones along with many nieces and nephews.

A chapel service will be held at Miller Woodlawn Funeral Home on Monday, December 8, 2025 in Bremerton, Washington.

Blessed be.