March 25, 1917 – September 7, 2018
Leta Louise (McCoy) Thomas, 101 years old, left peacefully to her heavenly home on September 7, 2018, while surrounded by her loving family. Leta was born on March 25, 1917 in Ottawa, Kansas. She graduated from Ottawa High School and then moved to Kansas City, Missouri. In Kansas City, she attended and graduated from the Isis Beauty School. On February 28, 1939, she married Lealon Edward Thomas and they had 45 wonderful years together. They had 2 children, Larry and Carol. Leta was a stay at home mom but worked hard gardening, canning, and taking care of some farm animals, however milking was not really her thing! When the children went to high school she went back to work. She worked at Montgomery Ward, Vendo (across from Butler Manufacturing, where her husband worked), and eventually she went to work at Cliff Manor Nursing Home in Riverside, Missouri, as an aid for a couple weeks. She then found her place in their beauty shop doing pin curls and finger waves on very appreciative residents. While there, she found her true love of painting. She retired from Cliff Manor and continued painting until her macular degeneration set in. Leta painted two more beautiful pictures after that. Not being able to paint and not being able to hear audio books or watch television, she started playing Uno! The only problem was when she played by herself, she admitted the left hand cheated the right!
She attended Randolph Baptist Church for a short time and then joined Birmingham Baptist Church, which became her home church. Leta was a member of the Northland Art League, President of Clay County Council PTA and Vrooman Dusters Extension Club. She loved life to the fullest and cherished her family and friends.
She was met in heaven by her husband, Lealon Thomas; her son, Larry Thomas; her mother, Ruth (Crawford) McCoy (who left for heaven when Leta was only 17); her father, Frank McCoy; her sister, Mazie McLean and her husband, Neil, of Prineville, Oregon; her brother, Glenn McCoy of Diamond Head, Arkansas; her step-mother, Florence; two step brothers; and one great granddaughter, Nicole Maucelli.
Those left to mourn her loss: her daughter, Carol Maucelli and her husband, Tony, of Kansas City, Missouri; her sister in law, Betty McCoy of Boca Raton, Florida; 7 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren with another on the way; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. We have enjoyed 5 generations for many years. Rest in peace, Mom. We will love you and miss you until we finally meet again.
Arrangements will be held at White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 N. Antioch Road, Gladstone, Missouri. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00pm on Wednesday, September 12, 2018. Funeral Services will be at 10:30am on Thursday, September 13, 2018. Memorials are suggested to New Beginnings Community Church, 3051 N. 51st Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66104.
