Mrs. Leota Faye Fitzsimmons

Leota Faye Fitzsimmons, 77, of Wann, died Saturday in Bartlesville. Leota was born the daughter of Bliss Delbert and Frances Beatrice (Claiborne) Doane on Dec. 11, 1936, in Fredonia, KS. She was raised and educated in Fredonia, and she grew up in the Pilgrim Wesleyan Church and enjoyed her summers at church camp. After graduating high school in 1956, Leota furthered her education at Colorado Christian College, Colorado Springs, before attending Friends University in Wichita and then Bartlesville Wesleyan College where she earned her degree in early childhood education. Leota married Harold Finkenbinder on Aug. 9, 1960, in Fredonia, and two children Lawrence and Sydney were born to this union. Leota later worked for Montgomery Ward, Harold Thomas Jeweler, and Sears, and during this time she was united in marriage with Phillip Joe Fitzsimmons on April 27, 1986, and they blended their two families together. Leota served 13 years as the secretary at Dewey Christian Church before retiring in 1999. She and Phil enjoyed 28 years together. Leota took great pride in the cleanliness of her home and she was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Cooking and hosting family get-togethers were special to her. She enjoyed the birds that lived in the trees near her house and listening to her favorite gospel and country music. She will be dearly missed. Leota is survived by her husband Phil of the home; seven children, Lawrence Finkenbinder and Deborah of Bartlesville, Sydney Askrens of Dewey, Marsha Greeland of Bartlesville, Phillip Fitzsimmons Jr and Dianne of Weatherford, OK, Renae Barnett and Royce of Bartlesville, Daniel Fitzsimmons and Kari of Carthage, MO, and Tim Fitzsimmons and Denè of Wann; as well as one brother Roland Doane and Shannon of Fredonia; one sister Emmajean Snook of Santa Ana, CA, her mother in law, Leona N. Carroll; 24 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, and two sisters Frances Law and Betty Joe Doane. Leota’s family will receive friends at the Davis Family Funeral Home, 918-534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014, at Dewey Christian Church with Rev. Casey Parham officiating. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared with Leota’s family at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Mrs. Leota Faye Fitzsimmons

December 11, 1936 - October 25, 2014