Letha L. Oller

Letha Leota Applegate Oller (Lee), 88, of Lucas, Kansas, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2015. Lee was known for her boundless energy, great storytelling ability, and quirky sense of humor. She loved reading, crossword puzzles, playing bingo, and crocheting. Lee had an extensive rock collection, which she began while traveling each year as her family harvested wheat and continued throughout her life, collecting a rock from every state she visited. Lee loved to cook and prided herself on dinner being ready every day at noon when the Lucas town whistle blew and you had better not be late to the dinner table. Her kitchen always brimmed with sweets including her family’s favorite cranberry relish, pudding-in-a-pan, and chocolate chip cookies. Lee loved animals and fed the neighborhood strays along with her beloved miniature schnauzers, Molly and the many Buffys. Lee was born on September 23, 1926 in Augusta, Kansas to the late Lenza Applegate and Leota Florence Sharpton Applegate. She attended Haven High School in Haven, Kansas. Lee worked for many years at the Beverly Nursing Home in Lucas. Lee met George W. Oller after he returned from World War II, and they married shortly afterwards. Lee and George first settled in Isabel, Kansas and later lived in Beeler and Woodston, before moving to Lucas, where they lived for 45 years. They were members of First United Methodist Church in Lucas and celebrated 54 years of marriage before his death in 2000. She was preceded in death by her husband, George W. Oller; oldest son, Dennis Joe Oller; sister, Elizabeth Wagner; and brothers, Lon (Marjory) Applegate and Ches (Phyllis) Applegate. She is survived by her daughters, Regina Parsons of Hutchinson, KS and Rebecca (Marty) Dixson of Liberty, MO; son Eric (Pat) Oller of Birmingham, AL; daughter-in-law, Barbara Oller of Emporia, KS; sister Bea Smith; brother, Marvin Applegate; grandchildren, Dawn Nestor, Jeff, Derek, and Brandon Oller, Tina Christy, Tammy Welch, Denise Wilcox, Adriane Ayala, Dana Dixson, Ashley Jacobs, Laura Jackson, and Emily Lunn; and 12 great grandchildren.