Eva Pearl LeClair

Eva Pearl King LeClair was born June 28, 1929, in Roseville, Michigan. Her parents were Raymond King and Jane Daly Scarlett King. Eva was the youngest child of five siblings: Arthur King, Vesta King Gould, Eleanor King Oliver, and Margery King Horton. She graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit with a bachelors in mathematics in 1951. She later used that degree as a bookkeeper. While at school, Eva met Roger LeClair, and they married in 1950. They were happily married for 65 years.

Eva raised four accomplished children: Denise, Norman, Roger, and Raymond. She has twelve grandchildren: Adrienne, Matthew, Carolyn, Andrew G., Katherine, Michael, Jeffrey, Andrew J., Rachelle, Jessica, Nicolle, and Lydia. She has nine great grandchildren: Eva, Charlotte, Remy, Watts, Xavier, Rodrigo, Reina, Arthur, and Ellie. One of her proudest moments was when her children and grandchildren all gathered in St. Louis for a surprise 80th birthday party.

Eva was a quiet woman. Her sweet and gentle nature made her a calming presence. She was also smart and very accomplished. She was an avid reader and inspired a love of knowledge and reading in all her children. Every week she went to the library, brought home an armful of books, always returned by the due date, to be replaced by another armful. A talented knitter, Eva designed and knit a fisherman sweater for each member of the family. A skilled seamstress, she sewed many of her own clothes and could mend or tailor any piece of clothing. She loved to play piano, though she seldom played for others.

Eva was also a renowned cook, famous for her stew and spaghetti. Each year she and her husband Roger assembled an elaborate fruit cake requiring a year-long rum soak. Even people who thought they hated fruit cake found hers delicious. She baked cookies every day. Her specialities were chocolate chip, ginger snaps, and pecan drops. Her recipes are still used today by her children and grandchildren.

Eva will be remembered by all who knew her with much love and joy.

VISITATION Thursday, December 19th from 6-8pm at the Mortuary. BURIAL Friday, December 20th 11am at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS.