Leta V. Olson's Obituary
Leta Vern Gleason Olson, 86, of Pampa passed away December 26, 2018 in Amarillo.
Services will be 2:00 PM Sunday, December 30, 2018 in the First Baptist Church in Shamrock with Rev. Mark Howard, officiating. Burial will follow in Shamrock Cemetery in Shamrock.
Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 PM Saturday at the funeral home.
Arrangements are by Robertson Funeral Directors of Shamrock.
Leta was born to Charles and Maude Gleason on the farm southwest of Seiling, Oklahoma, on October 1, 1932, in the middle of the Great Depression and Dustbowl, as the last of twelve kids. She married Alden LaRue Olson December 28th, 1954 in Enid, Oklahoma. She lived a full and varied life. Her education had a bumpy start. She did not finish the 10th grade, but later went to Southwestern Oklahoma State where she earned a teaching degree and a masters. She taught at Shamrock High School, Pampa High School and Clarendon College. Subjects included typing, business and art history. She retired as a counselor at Clarendon ISD in 1991. She received Regional Teacher of the Year, Business and Professional Women’s District Woman of the Year and Business Professional Women’s Woman of the Year twice during this time.
Besides teaching, she had a job plucking chickens, ironing, an advertising business, was a travel agent and educational tour guide in Europe, and author of several genealogy/history books. She and her husband traveled all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and Europe during their life together. She enjoyed singing, reading, research and family.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Also preceded in death by her siblings, Anna Link, Otis Ray Gleason, Winnie Mosley, Susie Winters, Dora Clow, Jocy Pannell, Norene Johnson, Frederick Gleason, Maxine Erickson, Lee Gleason and Lela Fern Gleason.
Leta was survived by children: Jack Olson and wife Linda of Weatherford, OK, Roxana Hamilton of Amarillo, TX, Lewis Olson and wife Christy of Port Allen, LA. She was also survived by grandchildren: Benjamin Ballard of Amarillo, TX, Amanda Haynes and James of Amarillo, TX, Angela Cheney and husband Chris of Walker, LA, Pike Olson and wife Nikki of Addis, LA. She has great-grandkids: Cheyenne Olson, Adyen Cheney, Grady Olson, and Ryan Hunter Haynes.
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