Leeta Francis Ficklin

Leeta Francis Ficklin passed away peacefully at the Courtyards of Lake Granbury, Thursday, December 31, 2020.

Funeral: Graveside service at 2:00pm, Saturday, January 9, 2021 at the Acton Cemetery.  Please adhere to Covid guidelines.

Leeta was born May 30, 1924 to Thomas Jefferson and Annie Mae Walker in Haskell, Texas.  Her family moved often to various cities in Texas, before settling in Big Spring, where Leeta graduated high school in 1940.  She briefly attended Tarleton State University but returned home at the beginning of WWII.   She sang with a quartet “The Melody Maids” entertaining troops with the USO in West Texas.  After the war, she reconnected with a childhood friend and married Frank W. Ficklin in Big Spring, Texas on 27 November, 1946.  She followed Frank to Lubbock where he attended and graduated college.  Little did she know, her adventures were just beginning.

In 1958 the family moved to Ecuador then Bolivia and Columbia.   Momma learned to pasteurize milk, shop at the crack of dawn in the local open markets, manage a home with servants, learn the language and culture of each country, keep us kids safe during riots, government coups, aircraft hijacking in Cuba, and a ransom demand. Frank was out on the rigs most of the time, so Momma was in charge of giving us kids a normal life while dealing with the challenges of a third world county.  Not an easy task.  After six years in Oklahoma and Wyoming they returned overseas to Saudi Arabia, Peru, Ivory Coast, Spain, Italy, England, Canary Islands, New Foundland, China, and Egypt.  Leeta and Frank traveled extensively in each country.  Momma was always ready for an adventure like a safari in Africa; deep sea fishing for Sharks; train trips thru Europe, the Far East, and Africa; golfing everywhere including by the Pyramids; touring museums and every church in Europe. After retirement they return to Texas where Leeta was very active in the United Methodist Women, the Decordova Women’s Club, the Melody Bells singing group, and the Lost Battalion Association.  Leeta and Frank continued traveling in their RV from coast to coast, while vacationing with grand kids, visiting family stationed overseas, annual fishing trips to the ranch in Wyoming with family and friends. She loved her family and lived life to its fullest.

Leeta was preceded in death by her husband Frank Ficklin; her son Thomas Clark Ficklin; her parents Thomas Jefferson and Annie Mae Walker; and her sister Paula Mae Coleman.

Survivors include her son Steven W. Ficklin, of Silt, CO, and her daughter Susan E. Ficklin, CAPT, USN, Ret; of Granbury, TX; three grandsons; two granddaughters; four great-grandsons, seven great- granddaughters; one great great-grandson; one great great granddaughter; nieces and nephews; and many friends.

The family would like to thank the Courtyards of Lake Granbury, with special recognition to the Memory Care staff (Ida) who loved and cared for Momma for over ten years.  She was always happy and loved her special visits from Audrey and Eleanor.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Lost Battalion Association, 1000 E. Tarrant, Bowie, TX 76230-5210