Leitha M. Drey, 84, of Morrison, IL, died Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center North in Clinton, IA.
Leitha was born March 12, 1931, in Dallas, SD, to William A. and Mabel (Cornemann) Brown. She was educated in various country grade schools and graduated from Gregory High School in Gregory, SD. She married Vernon B. Drey on October 24, 1949, in Gregory. He died October 8, 1987. Leitha was first employed by Graham’s Furniture Store in Gregory. After moving to Morrison, she worked for Dr. Curt Gronner, DDS. Then, along with her husband, she owned and operated Drey’s Liquor Store in Morrison. Most recently she worked at General Electric in Morrison, retiring in 1991. Following retirement she worked at Christian Care in Rock Falls, IL. Leitha was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Morrison, and the church’s Altar and Rosary Society. She was also a member of the GEM Club and the Morrison Music Theatre Association. She enjoyed baking, cooking, sewing, craft shows, participating in card clubs, hosting family gatherings, and attending grandchildren’s events.
Survivors include two daughters, Coleen (Don) Bisgard of Menomonee Falls, WI, and Roxanne (Jeffrey) Fish of Albany, IL; one son, Roger (Sue) Drey of Morrison; one daughter-in-law, Linda (Guy) Plumley of Davenport, IA; 15 grandchildren, Megan (fiancé Scott Tatzel) Bisgard, Jessica Bisgard, Brandon Bisgard, Rachel (Bobby) Niebuhr, Nathan Fish, Nicholas Fish, Nikki Drey, Aaron Drey, Sarah Drey, Carol Drey, Tommy Drey, Jennifer (Eric) Dorsey, Jamie (Steve) Silvest, Stephanie (Skip) Young, Matthew (Sarah) Plumley; eight great-grandchildren, Brooke, Madison, and Jada Silvest, Dreyten, Dawsen, and Dru Dorsey, Makayla Plumley, Brayton Niebuhr; one sister, Shirley Ann Beck of Winner, SD.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Vernon; one son, Dudley; six brothers, Willard “Rex,” Louis, Marlow “Jim,” Wayne, Russ, and Gary Brown.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 8, 2015, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Morrison, IL
OFFICIATING: Rev. Father William Antillon, Pastor, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Morrison, IL
VISITATION: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 7, 2015, at the Morrison Chapel, Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
INTERMENT: Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, IL
Memorials to the American Cancer Society and St. Mary’s Catholic Church have been established.