Lila Lee Leonard

Lila Lee (Lehenbauer) Leonard, 93, passed away at Heritage Villa in Bartlesville, Okla., on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Lila was born in Ponca City, Okla., on December 29, 1929. When Lila’s father, Orlow Edwin (Lindy) Lehenbauer married her mother, Marie Julia (Barr) in 1923, he married the Barr family as well. Living in Ponca City, their daughter and only child, Lila, was embraced and supported by the Barr’s. The importance of the Barr family connection bore fruit when Marie passed away at age 35 in the great influenza epidemic of 1939-40. Lila was ten at the time. Losing her mother left Lila fragile as she approached adolescence. While her father, a postal worker, was her stalwart, the Barr’s were her extended immediate family. While in high school, Lila met Franklin Rollie “Bud” Leonard, whose parents owned a Ponca City grocery store. Bud, four years older, had traveled the world as a US Marine. As a 17-year-old junior in high school, she and Bud were smitten with each other. So smitten, they drove to Sedan, Kans., where they were married by a justice of the peace in January 1947. To say her father was displeased was an understatement. Lila, who adored her father, complied when she was ordered home that night. She finished out her education at Ponca City high school. After graduation, they made several moves in southeast Kansas as Bud pursued his career as a butcher, meat salesman and owner of local meat markets. Their family expanded with the addition of daughter, Linda, and sons, Thomas and Mickey. In 1960, Bud and Lila made Caney, Kans., their home after purchasing Caney Food Bank – and stayed for 60 years. They became a vital part of the Caney economy and the lives of several generations of Caney teens who, along with their own children, worked their first jobs in the Leonard’s businesses. In addition to the Caney Food Bank, Bud and Lila partnered in building the Tastee Freez business known to customers throughout southeast Kansas. In 1979, they sold the Tastee Freez and opened the Red Maple Restaurant. Family life revolved around food – cooking at work, supplying the restaurants, trying new recipes, and exploring other restaurants. In their retirement, they cruised often and found hidden tourist gems in Oklahoma until Bud’s health failed. He passed away in 2006. Lila continued to live in Caney until 2020, when her family moved her to Bartlesville for assisted living. Lila took advantage of her prolonged goodbye to express her love for her children, grand- and great-grandchildren. Those left to cherish Lila’s memory include children and grandchildren: Roy and Linda Roper, Shawn and Kim Page; Dennis and Karman Blevins, Thomas and Janice Leonard, Briana Brzezinski, Chance and Kristi Uhrich; Mickey and Karen Leonard, Jake and Blayne Shaffer, and Brett and Caitlin Leonard. Lila’s legacy also includes 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Lila’s life will be held at Tyro Christian Church, where she was a member, in Tyro, Kans., on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 11 am.

Lila Lee Leonard

December 29, 1929 - March 28, 2023