Wilma Leonard Obituary

Funeral services for Cheyenne, Wyo., resident and former area resident Wilma LaNora (Moore) Leonard were held Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment followed at Cortez Cemetery.

Wilma LaNora (Moore) Leonard, 79, died Monday, Nov. 28, at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, after a short illness. Mrs. Leonard was born in Zafra, Okla., Sept. 28, 1932, to John H. and Exie Arminda Nichols Moore.

Mrs. Leonard is survived by a daughter, Deborah and her husband Robert Baxmann of Mission, British Columbia, Canada; a son, Daniel Dean and his wife Patricia Leonard, of Belton, Texas; a brother, Elmer Lee Moore, of Vista, Calif.; a sister, Leona Moore, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; grandchildren, Danielle Bassetto and Paul Bienz, of British Columbia, Hannah and Logan Leonard, of Belton, Tara Fish and Trent Nielson, of Cortez, Chad and Brock Nielson, of Utah, Heidi, Landon, Careasa and Preston Baxmann, all of British Columbia, Michelle Carpenter, of Omaha, Neb., Kimberly Wilson, of York, United Kingdom; her mother-in-law for 60 years, Willie Ann Leonard of Lewis; 17 great-grandchildren; three nieces; four nephews; and numerous other relatives in Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas.

Mrs. Leonard was preceded in death on June 22, 1985, by her husband, Paul Dean Leonard. They were married on Oct. 24, 1954, in Durango. She was also preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Inez Smalling; and brother, D.W. Moore.

A teacher for 47 years, Mrs. Leonard taught elementary school in Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Virginia and Wyoming. While she enjoyed all of her years as a teacher, she especially loved teaching elementary art in Cheyenne.

Mrs. Leonard graduated from Smithville High School, Smithville, Okla., where she played basketball and softball. She earned her teaching certificate from Southeastern State College in Durant, Okla. She was a talented artist and an avid reader. Her greatest joy was her family.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.