Leola (Sprague) Kearney

Leola E. Sprague Kearney

Date of Birth:  September 15, 1927

Date of Death:  June 12, 2021

Leola was born to Frank A. and Bertha A. Miller on September 15, 1927 in Miller City, Ohio.  Leola was one of nine children.  She lost her mother when she was six years old, an event that defined her life.  She was the last of Frank and Bertha’s children to pass away.  Leola came to Lima, when she was 16 years of age to be a nanny.  She also worked part time at a café where she met a dashing man who came in with his soldier buddies.  That man, Oliver Loyal, married her on October 27, 1945.  For forty-two years they raised seven wonderful children:  Michael (Barb) of Elida, Dennis (Carolyn) of Daytona Beach FL., Larry (Evelyn) of St. Petersburg, FL, O. Barry (Michelle) of Lima, Mary (Bert) McCourt of Lima, Margaret (Tom) Madden of Noblesville, IN and Tim (Lyn) of Lima.  She was the matriarch of five generations when she passed.

Leola is proceeded in death by her husband Oliver Sprague; her second husband Ted Kearney, to whom she was married to for thirteen years prior to his passing in 2004.  She is also proceeded in death by her son Michael, son-in-law Bert McCourt and her grandchildren Jeremy Sprague and Mary Elizabeth Madden.

Leola enjoyed talking about her Savior, Jesus Christ, she passionately shared her deep beliefs to anyone she met.  Throughout her life she visited older people within their homes or nursing homes, she would share meaningful poems and treats for major holidays.  She volunteered at Churches United Pantries (CUP), Salvation Army and numerous other churches and social agencies to administer distribution of food and clothing to others.  She was known for making breads and jam and giving it out to family members, her children’s bus drivers, numerous neighbors and friends.  She enjoyed and was very proud of the privilege of volunteering at Memorial Hospital for over 25 years.  She loved to cook, often without recipes.  She loved to decorate her tables with coordinating table clothes, napkins, and decorations that always centered around a theme of some kind.  She loved her food hot and her guests on time.  She ministered to others through food and time.  She loved to enjoy a good meal with family and friends.  She loved to send cards celebrating holidays and special moments.  Each card came with stickers that were meaningful or cute.   She gardened and canned and shared her love of gardening with her beloved grandson, Conner, who carries on her tradition of putting out a yearly garden.

She communicated her desires for how she would leave this world.  She wanted to die at home in bed.  Her children listened carefully and fulfilled her wishes.  They sat vigil, making sure to share many meals together and take turns keeping her comfortable.  The evening of her passing, her children were present or represented and was eating dinner, sharing stories, laughing and joking.  Her grand-daughter, daughters and daughters-in-law surrounded her bed sharing meaningful memories and stories when she quietly passed into the arms of her mother and her loving Savoir.  She is at peace.

The family will receive friends from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on June 16th and from 10:00am to 11:00am on June 17, 2021 at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home in Lima, Ohio.

The funeral service will begin at 11:00am on June 17, 2021 at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home in Lima, Ohio.  James Loughrin will officiate.  Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Lima, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made to Churches United Pantry (C.U.P.) 129 S. Pierce St., Lima, OH 45801.   Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com