Leota Mabel St. Clair, age 96, of Pensacola, Florida has gone home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus, at 1930 on the evening of April 20, 2024. Just shy of 97. She passed peacefully and with grace.
Leota was born August 14, 1927 in Wonewoc, Wisconsin. She grew up a hard worker on her family's dairy farm, milking cows by hand, plowing fields by horse and growing everything they needed to eat. Her faith in God was nurtured in both the Lutheran and Quaker churches. At the age of eight (1935), she had a one in a million chance to survive a brain injury and had to have emergency neurosurgery performed by a country doctor. This miracle was the beginning of great plans God had for young Leota. She graduated from Wonewoc High School in 1946, where she was a member of the high school band as a self taught baton twirler.
At the age of 23, she left Wisconsin on her own with a small suitcase and $10 in her purse to forge a new life in Chicago, Illinois. It was in Chicago, she met and married a sailor from West Virginia. As a navy wife, Leota traveled to all corners of the 48 states. After having six children, Leota went back to school and earned her license in cosmetology. She worked many years as a beautician before permanently retiring with her husband in Pensacola, Florida.
Leota is preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. St. Clair and her parents Arland and Mabel Jackson. She is survived by her children: Randall White, of Pensacola, FL; Albert L. (Kathy) St. Clair of Meridian, MS; Mary R. St. Clair of Dallas, TX; Etta Mae (James) Byrd of Pensacola Beach, FL; Annette (Phillip) Dougherty of Covington, KY; and Josette St. Clair (Gerry) Goyins of Pensacola, FL. She is also survived by her brother, James (Debbie) Jackson of Wonewoc, WI. She has nine grandchildren: Jessica, Jennifer, and Joy St.Clair; Benton Byrd; Sophie, Jacob, Sadie, and Gabby Goyins; and Sheila Dougherty. Three great grandchildren: Samuel, Elizabeth and Jack. Beloved nieces and nephews as well.
Leota attended the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel for many years. She was an elementary Sunday school teacher in the late 1960's and early 1970's on NAS Pensacola and was active on the PTA at Navy Point Elementary school and Turner Lee Day Elementary in Warrington, FL. Leota was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Warrington Chapter.
Leota will always be remembered as a woman of faith who taught her children that Jesus loves and died for them. She never ceased praying everyday for her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She taught that God is faithful and His love for us undying. To our beloved mother, rest well, your work is done.
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