1923~2017
Leona Ilene Pierce Tolbert was born March 28, 1923 in Woodward, OK, to Jesse James Hancock and Mary Ellen ”Mae” (Unwin) Hancock. Leona passed away Tuesday, August 1, 2017 in Okeene, OK at the age of 94. She graduated from Seiling High School in Seiling, OK. She married W.L. “Bud” Pierce in Taloga, OK in 1942. Born into this union were daughters, Linda Leigh (Pierce) Fisher and Lynne Robin (Pierce) Babbit, and one son Lanny Gail Pierce. Leona and Bud along with their children lived in Southard, OK until the graduation of their three children. During this time, Leona took a job at the Lodge at Roman Nose State Park in Watonga, OK, where she started out as a waitress, then receptionist and retired as a bookkeeper. In 1978, she married H.G. “Hod” Tolbert and made their home in Watonga, OK. During this time, she enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting, cross-stitching, gardening. She and Hod enjoyed traveling extensively across the United States. She loved visiting family and friends and always received compliments on being such a sweet lady. Leona was a beloved Mom, Grandma and Grammy. Her family was the joy of her life. Leona was preceded in death by her parents Mae and Jesse Hancock, her husband Hod Tolbert, her oldest daughter Linda Fisher, also the father of Leona’s children, W.L. “Bud” Pierce, brother in-law Lester Perkins and nephew Jimmy Zaubi. Survivors include: sister, Lola Perkins, El Reno, OK; Son in-law, Larry “Casey” Fisher, El Reno, OK; Son, Lanny Pierce and wife Linda, Choctaw, OK; Daughter, Lynne Babbit and husband David, El Reno, OK; Step-Children, Veva Daugherty, Watonga, OK; Susan Tolbert, New Braunfels, TX; Hal Tolbert and wife June, Santa Rosa, CA. Granddaughters, Kimy Arndt, Yukon, OK; Kristy Ellis and husband Jeff, Yukon, OK; Kelli Barton and Hank Anderson, Wellston, OK; Leigh Williamson and Shane Russell, Mustang, OK; Sherry Abercrombie, Mustang, OK; Sheila Babbit, Oklahoma City, OK; Step-grandchildren, Ashley Stewart and husband Shawn, Mustang, OK; Neal Riley and wife Amanda, Watonga, OK; John Tolbert, Santa Rosa, CA; Rebekah Skopp and husband Greg, Santa Rosa, CA; Cara Panebianco and husband Dave Stallard, Oakland, CA; AJ and husband Mike Keyser, New Braunfels, TX; 20 great-grandchildren and 2 great great-grandchildren. Services were held Monday, August 7, 2017 at the First Christian Church in Yukon. Burial followed at the Yukon Cemetery. Officiating her service were family members Neil Unwin and Orville White. Neil, Orville and Orville’s wife Sherry sang Leona’s requested Hymns. Services were under the direction of Yanda and Son Funeral Home, Yukon, OK. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Online condolences may be signed at www.yandafuneral.com.