For more information, see the Feb. 3, 2010, issue of the Labette Avenue. To locate previously posted death notices, enter the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page. Labette Avenue publishes death notices free of charge. Paid obituaries ($20) are printed in their entirety in the Labette Avenue and online at www.taylornews.org/lba.

Lee Birdsong

TUCSON, Ariz.—In loving memory. Lee Birdson, 77, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly a long time Chetopa, Kan., resident, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010, in Tucson.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Lee was born Feb. 25, 1932. She had deep religious convictions, was an avid reader and a lover of art. She will be sorely missed by her family.

She is survived by her five children, 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Hattie Marie Libbey Leyda

PONCA CITY, Okla.—Hattie Marie Libbey Leyda, longtime resident of Westminster Village, Ponca City, Okla., passed away Monday morning, Jan.25, 2010, at Westminster Village. She was 102 years of age.

A memorial service was held Friday, Jan. 29, at the First Baptist Church, in Altamont, Kan. A graveside committal service was held Friday at the Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons, Kan. Rev. Greg Garrett, pastor of the First Baptist Church, presided.

Arrangements were under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel, Ponca City, Okla.

Memorial contributions may be made in Hattie’s name to Westminster Village, 1601 Academy Road, Ponca City, OK 74604.

Hattie’s guestbook may be signed at www.gracememorialchapel.net.

Hattie was born April 7, 1907, in the Eureka Springs, Ark., area, the second of six children born to Joel Harrison Libbey and Stella May Bridgeman Libbey. At age 12, her mother died, leaving her father to care for the children. When he couldn’t care for them, they were separated and sent to live with other family. Hattie went with her father’s cousin, Clarence Libbey, and wife, Ada, to live in Altamont.

Hattie learned to play the piano, violin and love the Lord from her cousin Lois, Libbey. Hattie faithfully attended the First Baptist Church in Altamont. She was a graduate of the Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

She was married to Connell L. “Don” Leyda on July 17, 1927, in Lawrence, Kan. Hattie had worked at the Kansas Ordinance Plant in Parsons, Kan., during World War II while her husband was overseas.

Hattie had lived in Oswego, Girard and Coffeyville, Kan., prior to moving to Westminster Village, Ponca City, Okla., in June of 1999. Hattie moved to Ponca City to be close to her granddaughter, Cindy Watson, and daughter-in-law, Fran Leyda Long.

Hattie was a true homemaker who enjoyed cooking, painting and making crafts of all kinds and her love was designing and making quilts of all kinds. Hattie always enjoyed doing for others and always had a handmade gift, hot rolls or homemade candy for them. She was well loved at Westminster Village and was known for her large collection of Teddy Bears.

She is survived by her two grandchildren, Col. Chris Leyda and wife,Sunpok, Valrico, Fla.; and Cindy Watson and husband John, Ponca City; her daughter-in-law, Fran Leyda Long and husband Don, Ponca City; her sister, Lucile Novak, Newhall, Calif.; one niece, Norma Brooks, Overland Park, Kan.; four great grandchildren, Christopher Leyda Jr. and Clarissa Leyda, Kelley Watson and Gage Watson; three step-grandchildren, Kym Seals, Lori Sturgeon and Mark Long; two step-great grandchildren, Rachael Haws and Emily Vinyard.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Connell L. “Don” Leyda in 1983; her son, Donald L. Leyda in 1980; her father’s cousins, Clarence and Ada Libbey; her beloved cousin, Lois Libbey; brother, John “Jack” Libbey; Esther Burger, Dorothy Alderson and Myrtle Shelton.