Letha G. (Rowan) Peart - Kreckman |
| Posted 2009-05-06 by Judy Wight Branson |
| Camp Verde Bugle, Camp Verde, Arizona Tuesday, May 05, 2009 Letha G. Kreckman, long time Kingman resident and business woman, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Cottonwood, Arizona. She was born February 12, 1918, in Seligman, Arizona, the younger daughter of Mary Ethel and George Rowen. An eager student, some of her fondest memories are those of playing basketball on the girl's team in Seligman High School. During her teen years in Seligman, she worked as one of the famed Harvey House Girls until she went to cosmetology school in Phoenix. After graduation, she moved Kingman and took her first beauty shop job in the Beale Hotel. She married Robert L. Peart, and the couple moved to Peach Springs, where they owned and operated the Peach Springs Motor Court and Texaco service station for more than a decade. She operated the businesses during her husband's years of service in the Navy. With two daughters, ages 10 and 3, the family moved to Kingman for several years, owning and operating the Texaco station at Andy Devine and 5th Street. They then built a service station and bar in Truxton and bought their first gas bulk plant in Kingman. She ran the Truxton businesses, and her husband drove to Kingman daily to run the businesses in town. This continued for many years before they returned permanently to Kingman. In addition to co-owning the bulk plants and several service stations, she turned her business skills to banking, working as a teller until she retired at the age of 70. Her quick smile and friendly manner drew people to her, and she enjoyed meeting those who banked there regularly. She was also extremely proud of having thwarted an armed robbery of the bank at her window. Those who knew Letha knew her to be a superb seamstress, and many came to her to have special clothing made. Her daughters and granddaughter benefitted especially from her talent with many ornate handmade clothes, including dresses every Easter, uniforms and costumes for their performances, Rainbow and dance formals, wedding and bridesmaid dresses, and numerous embroidered pillow cases, dish towels and doilies. Letha also loved music, and playing her piano gave her much enjoyment and solace. She was later married to Fred Kreckman for approximately 20 years until his death in 1988. Letha was active in the Order of Eastern Star, a member for 70 years, and she served as Worthy Matron for the Kingman chapter. She was a life-long member of St. John's United Methodist Church. She served as a Pink Lady in the hospital and volunteered for numerous civic and charitable activities. She was an active supporter of her daughters in Scouts, in their various school activities and as they moved through the ranks of the Rainbow Girls, both having held state offices. When her grand daughter played on the high school basketball team, she took special interest and was the proud "Grams" on the sidelines. Later, her great grandson became her most special little guy. In addition to her late husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Frances McMichael and husband, Earnest. Surviving her are daughter and son-in-law Judith and Russell Balda of Cottonwood, AZ; daughter and son-in-law Trudy and Jim Burrus of Mission Viejo, CA; her granddaughter and husband Lori and Roger Schneider and much-loved, great grandson Grady Schneider of Scottsdale, AZ; and many nieces and nephews some of whom view Aunt Letha as a second Mom. She leaves many dear friends whom she gathered around her and whom she missed greatly when her eyesight necessitated her recent move closer to her older daughter in Cottonwood. Memorial services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, May 9, 2009 at St. John's United Methodist Church, 1730 Kino Avenue, Kingman, Az. A lunch reception will follow at the church. Please convey your condolences at www.buelerfamilyfuneralhome.com. Bueler Funeral Home assisted the family. Information provided by survivors |
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