Leah T. Melroy

Leah T. Melroy, age 87, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 19, 2020, at Meadowlark Estates, Lawrence, Kansas. A private service will be held with interment at Highland Cemetery in Ottawa, Kansas. Leah was born Tuesday, May 30, 1933, in Toronto, Kansas, the daughter of Vance and Dorothy (Williamson) Cooper. She lived sixty years in Ottawa, until moving to Meadowlark Estates in Lawrence, Kansas in 2013. She graduated from Toronto High School in Toronto, Kansas and from the Lawrence School of Hairstyling in Lawrence, Kansas. Leah was united in marriage with James Dale Melroy in November 1975 at Burlington, Kansas. He preceded her in death June 4, 2007. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Vance and Dorothy Cooper; son, Stephen Smith; brothers, Bill Cooper and stepdaughter, Lora Johnson. Survivors include daughters, Jane Smith-Geiss and her husband, Larry of Bonita Springs, Florida and Terri Smith and her husband, Robert of Longford, Kansas; stepson, Jim Melroy and his wife, Judy of Wichita, Kansas; brother, Eddie Cooper and his wife, Karen of Burlington, Kansas; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Leah worked a total of forty years as a hairdresser; first in various shops until 1989, when she opened her own shop, Leah’s Styling Salon. She retired in 2008. Leah was very proud to be a Gold Star Mother since 1971. She enjoyed crocheting and quilting. Family and friends are encouraged to post their memories on Leah’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com.