Leona Rathbone

Leona Rathbone, 97, of Fines Creek, passed away July 8 surrounded by her family. Her health had been deteriorating over the past month so she passed peacefully at home with the assistance of hospice care. She was a loving Mother and a very caring person towards those in need. She will be greatly missed by all that knew her.

Her passion was creating beautiful quilts and reading. She gave many of her quilts to churches and organizations so that they could use them to raise funds. Thankfully, she was able to quilt and read up until a month before she passed. They call her generation, The Greatest Generation, because of their sacrifices during WW11. She never stopped sacrificing for those that she loved.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Glenn Rathbone; her parents, Charlie and Hattie Ledford McElrath; grandson, Joseph Rathbone; siblings, Johnny McElrath, Betty McElrath, Wilson McElrath, Ammons McElrath, Eva McElrath Arrington, Geter McElrath, and Minda McElrath Price. She is survived by her children; Ted Rathbone (Patti), June Rathbone Grasty (Fred), Linda Rathbone Harrison, Dean Rathbone, sister Georgia Estallee Teague and grandchildren;Kathy Werhan (Mike), Everett Grasty (Kim), Brad Rathbone, Ryan Rathbone, Kristin Cagle, and Steve Vanover (Betty). She was the grandmother of 6 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren.

Her arrangements will be handled by Garrett Funeral Home of Waynesville. At her request, the viewing and services will be private. She wants people to remember her as she was while still living. Her gentle smile and loving touch will be missed by many. She loved and was loved. Those are her memories.