Leona Polson

On January 16, 1939 Ernest Walborn and Mary Lillian Harmon Walborn gave birth to twin girls, Leona and Lenora in Anthony, Kansas.  The family lived in the Byron-Driftwood and Amorita area.  Leona graduated from Driftwood in 1957.  Then she and Lenora worked as telephone operators at the telephone office in Cherokee. After Leona and J. D.  Ryel were married she continued working in the telephone office.  They had two children before they were separated in 1973.  On August 30, 1974, she married Richard Polson and moved to the family farm east of Amorita.  Leona worked at Burlington School as a cook and loved this job.  She went to school to be certified.  Later in addition to cooking she was asked to clean classrooms to finish out the day.  She also helped on the farm and helped raise a grandson.  She retired in 2010 from the school to live on the farm and take care of her garden and flowers.  Her husband, Richard, got hurt and had to go live at the Homestead in Alva.  She moved over to be with him so he could help take care of her and they could be together.

Those who have preceded Leona in death are her parents, Ernest and Lillian Walborn; brother, Leland Walborn; brothers-in-law, Dwayne Williams, James Hess, Mike Blackburn; mother-in-law, Neva Polson; father-in-law, D. C. Polson and her first husband, J. D. Ryel.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 48 years, Richard Polson; children, Jerry Ryel and Janice Ryel Allen and husband, Robert; grandchildren, Jay Ryel, Justin Allen, Jacob Allen and wife, Erica, Lorne Francisco and wife, Amber; great-grandchildren, Haley, Tadem and Jayce Ryel, Haileigh, Harleigh , Gage and Montana; one brother, John Walborn and wife, Pat; four sisters, Mary Hess, Florence Williams, Lenora Enterline and husband, Leon, Betty Blackburn; sister-in-law, Ellen Walborn along with numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Graveside service for Leona will be Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at Byron-Amorita Cemetery.  Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee.  There will be no viewing.  www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook:  Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials may be made the Byron-Amorita Cemetery or Byron-Amorita Fire Department through the funeral home.

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