Cherry Lynn Leita

Cherry Lynn Leita, 81, of Victoria, passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026. She was born in Alice, Texas to A.J. and Peggy McWhirter Stanford on February 2, 1945. Cherry was a force of nature, known for her extraordinary grit and fierce tenacity for life. She carried an unshakable joy, a light that refused to dim no matter what came her way. Cherry was a devout member of Faith Family Church for many years.

In addition to her parents, Cherry is preceded in death by her brothers, Larry Stanford and Glenn Stanford, sister, Cheryl Rodriguez, brothers-in-law, John Schmidt and Jimmy Kruse, granddaughter, Jordan Herman, and niece, Georgina Rodriguez.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Fred Hoelter II, Dolly Samuels Kutac and her husband Mike, Jerome Leita, and Jana Leita Stout and her husband Jeremy. Her grandchildren are, Fred Hoelter III and his wife Karen, Lauren Hoelter, Tyson Ruddick and his wife Brittney, Sheena Ruddick, R.J. Ruddick, Emily Ponder and her husband Ty, Eric Garza, Chandler Puckett, Granger Leita, Gavin Leita, Ethan Stout, Daniel Stout, and Katelynn Gabrysch and her husband Logan. Her great-grandchildren are, Freddie Hoelter IV, Lacy Herman, Isabella Ruddick, Ava Baladez, Paisley Baladez, Waylon Ruddick, Kaylee Ruddick, Charlie Baladez, Kora Ruddick, Karson Ponder, Presley Ponder, Hudson Brannan, and on the way, Evelynn Grace Gabrysch, due November 2026. She also leaves behind her siblings, Fred Stanford and his wife Patrice, Janice Schmidt, Peggy Gail Kruse, Andy Stanford and his wife Yvette, and sister-in-law Theresa Stanford, as well as numerous extended family and friends.

A celebration of Cherry’s vibrant life will be held on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 2 p.m., with visitation starting at 1:30 p.m., all at Rosewood Funeral Chapel, 3304 E. Mockingbird Lane, Victoria, Texas.

Words of comfort, condolences and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.