LAKE JACKSON, Texas — Leota June Mettling, 93, of Lake Jackson, Texas, passed away Nov. 3, 2017 in the loving hands of her daughter Deanne and her husband Marv Amerine.
She was born June 10, 1924 to Ross and Lizzie Crawford in Seward, south of Great Bend. The family moved for many years to different farms, mainly north of Greensburg. Leota graduated from Greensburg High School and was the only one of the five children to graduate.
She met the love of her life on Main Street of Greensburg, and married him five months later in Centerview Nov. 14, 1942. She was living with Wayne’s parents near Lewis, when their daughter Linda Deanne was born while he was overseas as part of the Allied Forces occupying Japan after WWII.
She and Wayne lived in the following Kansas cities — Lewis, Winfield, Montezuma, Kinsley and Great Bend. They moved to Lake Jackson, Texas in 1995 to be close to their daughter Linda Deanne and family. Wayne passed away May 25, 1997.
Leota enjoyed sewing and made many of her own and her daughter’s clothes. She expressed her innate creativity in a variety of crafts. She passed on her love of crafts to her granddaughter Kirsty and great-granddaughter Abby. A favorite pastime was playing games with friends and family. She enjoyed traveling with her family and had traveled through most of the 50 states.
She was a lifelong Republican, proudly believing in our duty to be informed and vote. It was important to her in recognizing that our United States of America was founded on Christian principles. She was not shy in sharing her patriotism and encouraging others.
She served on committees at Trinity United Methodist Church in Great Bend and Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Lake Jackson. Her friends and fellow Christians were important to her. She moved to Hearthstone Assisted Living in 2010, which later became Elmcroft Senior Living. Her ministry there began with serving others with friendship, giving directions, and giving voting advice.
Survivors include her daughter Linda Deanne and husband Marv Amerine; grandson, Dan Amerine, Tulsa, granddaughter Kirsty and husband Brad Merrell and great granddaughter Abby Merrell, Katy, Texas; nephew David and wife Carol Woods. Chouteau, Okla.; niece-in-law Pat Crawford, Hutchinson; and cousins Leila Griffitt, Ellinwood; and Karen Post, Great Bend; and Byron Healzer, Lake St. Louis, Mo.
Since Wayne was one of five boys, Leota is survived by many Mettling nieces and nephews and her special sister-in-law Cora Mettling, Udall.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Wayne, parents Ross and Lizzie Crawford; three brothers, Lewie, Frank, and Ross Jr.; sister Erma Woods; parents-in-law Ora and Daisy Mettling, brothers-in-law Ray and Betty Mettling, Carl and Frances Mettling, Harold Mettling, and Gordon and Velma Mettling.
Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 9 at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. A celebration of Leota’s life is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10 at Chapelwood.
Visitation in Great Bend is scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Bryant Funeral Home. Visitation is also scheduled from 9 a.m. until service time Monday. Funeral service at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13. Burial will be next to her beloved husband at 2 p.m. Monday at Wayne Cemetery in Lewis.
We know that Leota would be honored if donations were made in her memory to one of her favorite charities — Billy Graham Evangelism Association, Covenant House of Texas, and Prison Fellowship Ministry, or Chapelwood UMC.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home *
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS, 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 8, 2017
