Leona Mae Handke Dudley

Leona Mae Handke Dudley, age 94, died on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at the Garden Valley Retirement Village in Garden City, Kansas. She was born on November 18, 1921, at Pocasset, Oklahoma, the daughter of Adolph and Annie Mae Worthington Handke. 

Leona graduated from the Lacrosse Community School. She married Cecil Edgar Dudley on August 20, 1940, at Gracemont, Oklahoma. She and Cecil moved to Garden City, Kansas in 1947.

Leona has been a member of the United Methodist Church since September 7, 1969, where she was a teacher of the Heathstone Sunday school class. She participated in the church Shepherding group, the membership of the Care group, and also the Godmother’s group. 

Leona was a member of Sunflower E.H.U. for 35 years, and, at present, is a member of the Sequoia Sues. She was also a member of the Garden View Grange.

Leona was a Red Cross Gray Lady and a volunteer for the St. Catherine’s Hospital for a combination of 30 plus years as well as being a member of the Belle of St. Catherine and the Finney County Chamber of Commerce.

Leona and Cecil were 4-H community leaders for the Happy Hustlers 4-H Club from 1956 to 1958.

Leona was employed over the years at the Hobby Huddle, Vogue Shop, Tot & Teens, and 17 years at the Sweetbriar Shop.

Her hobbies included making ceramic dolls, quilt making and preparing homemade jams and jellies.

Leona is survived by two sons, Jerry Edgar Dudley of Paris, Texas, and Wayne Dudley of Albuquerque, New Mexico; four grandsons, Robert Dudley of Burnett, Texas, Brian Dudley of Texarkana, Texas, Brett Dudley of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Kirk Dudley of Lincoln, Nebraska; two granddaughters, Lisa Dudley of Sugar Land, Texas, and Sheila Dudley of Austin, Texas; two great grandchildren, Taylor Rae and Austen; six stepgrandchildren.

Leona was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil, her parents, Adolph and Annie Handke, two brothers, Garrett and Joe Handke, and four sisters, Lottie Houts, Martha Whitley, Ethel Cox and Julia Dudley, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorials may be made to the Godmothers in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home; 620 N. Main, Garden City, Kansas 67846.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 31, 2016 from 10:00-8:00 with the family present from 6-8.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church of Garden City.