Lorna “Sue” Legleiter, age 76, of WaKeeney, passed away Thursday, October 8, 2020, in Hays. She was born November 22, 1943, in Hays, Kansas, to Alfred “Sonny” and Berniece M. (Johnson) Gross. Sue was a WaKeeney resident for over 50 years.
On June 19, 1965, she was united in marriage to Melvin W. Legleiter, in Hays, Kansas. They enjoyed 42 years of marriage before Melvin passed away April 17, 2008. Sue was a retired bookkeeper from her husband’s trucking company. She spent her time reading countless novels and enjoyed sitting in her backyard, watching the birds at her birdfeeder, and talking with her neighbors and with her neighbors’ pets. She loved animals of all sorts. Sue also enjoyed visiting with people. At any family event, you could find her in the midst of people talking about life, giving her opinion on matters, and laughing in her distinctive way. She especially enjoyed visiting with her nieces and nephews.
One of Sue’s guilty pleasures was smoking, and over the last several decades, Sue found herself relegated to the “smokers’ section” of many places she visited. There, Sue talked with and made countless short-term friendships. Because of her easy laugh and disarming personality, Sue could get people to talk about life in those few minutes together. It was always a wonder to witness Sue bring friendship to others in these small ways. She collected angel figurines, as well as anything dealing with owls. When Sue could, she found great adventure and joy taking cruises with her sister and traveling to Maine to visit with her. Most of all, Sue enjoyed her two grandsons, Michael and Stephen, who brought great joy to her life.
She is survived by a daughter, Christine and husband Tony Gabel of Hays; two grandchildren, Michael and Stephen of Hays; a brother, Eugene Gross of Cary, North Carolina; a sister, Patricia Fellers of Calais, Maine. Sue was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2020, at Christ the King Catholic Church, WaKeeney. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Tuesday evening, from 5 to 7, at the funeral home in WaKeeney. There will also be a short visitation one hour prior to Mass at the Parish Center (across from the church).
Memorial contributions are suggested to Christ the King Cemetery Fund, Humane Society of the High Plains, or for Masses. These memorials in Sue’s memory may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N 12th St., WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.schmittfuneral.com.