Leta Alene Card, daughter of the late Malcolm and Rosalie Card, was born on September 25, 1945 in Centralia, Wa. and passed away peacefully in her home in Earlville, NY surrounded by family on Dec. 26th, 2016. She grew up in Rochester, Wa where she attended school and graduated in 1963. She was an excellent student in all areas of study and also loved theater and the arts, performing in many plays and creating beautiful paintings. She attended Centralia College after her high school career and later became a licensed massage therapist at the Olympia School of Massage Therapy.
She had a strong faith in Jesus Christ, and was a Methodist Youth Leader, later joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the age of 18. Her faith in our Savior was the foundation of her life.
Her greatest joy in life was being a wife, mother and homemaker. She was married to the late Reginald S. Card and they made their home in Earlville, New York, where they had the “Hillbilly Heaven Farm” for many years, canning, freezing, and drying the produce and herbs from their gardens. They always had room in their home and hearts for family and friends, some of whom came to visit and stay for years. She was known by many as “the herb lady” and “the goat lady”.
She and Reggie also loved family and local history. Leta served as secretary of the Erieville-Nelson Heritage Society for several years. She was also the first co-president with Reggie of the newly-organized Sherburne Historic Park Society, also later serving as vice-president and secretary. She was a member of the Daughters of “98, as her father had received a Spanish-American War pension. As an avid family historian, she spent more than 50 years of her life researching ancestors and family lines, leaving as a legacy her book entitled, Letters From Home, featuring family letters dating back as far as 1666 as well as a personal history of her parents. She organized the rebirth of the Cross/Burdick Family Reunions, serving as president the first four years until stepping down at the time of Reggie’s death in 2013.
Her love of history and talent of singing compelled her to perform civil war musical programs in the group, The Bullthistle Balladeers, in which she wrote many original poems and songs.
She shared her many talents as a member of her church, serving in various capacities such as Relief Society President and Young Women’s President, blessing the lives of countless people.
She is predeceased by her parents, her brother Everett Card and her beloved eternal companion and husband, Reggie Card.
She is survived by her four children, Valerie Joi Hughes (William), Marcus Adrian Cordero, Cindy Rosalie Moss (Scott) and Amy Lee Agatha Lessley (Preston), each one her favorite (in her own words), also Marlyn Duarte as her “adopted daughter”, including 15 dearly beloved grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, many cousins and her Ya-Ya Sisters, Judy Ray and Joan Burdick.
She is also survived by her husband’s children, Marsha Massett (Pat), Reginald S. Card Jr. (Betsy) and Cindy DeGroat (Luke).
Services will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 11 am form the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1 Cole Dr., Norwich. Interment will be held in the spring in Evergreen Cemetery, Erieville. Friends are invited and my call on Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm at the church.
We give special thanks to Hospice, friend and doctor Sunny Nelson, and all the earthly angels who helped in so many ways.
Donations may be made to the Sherburne Historic Park Society in her honor.