Leola Marie Little

Leola Marie Little, 93, of Douglass, Kansas, passed away Thursday morning, June 5, 2025. She was born October 27, 1931, to Lee and Marie (Adams) Hall. She grew up on Rock Creek in Butler County, and graduated from Douglass High School in 1949. She married Duane Little on August 19, 1949, and together they built a life filled with family and service in every community they lived.

Leola described herself as a homemaker and a volunteer. As a homemaker, Leola worked hard to provide a secure home for her family. She knew how to stretch a dollar and make do with what she had. An accomplished seamstress, she sewed her family’s clothes and taught her daughters how to sew. She could create a dress (or wedding gown) from a photograph, using pieces from multiple patterns. She continued sewing for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including making prom dresses, Halloween costumes, and costumes for the plays her daughter and granddaughter directed. After her children grew up, she began quilting, and over the past 50 years, she hand-quilted over 100 quilts, comforters, and coverlets. Leola was also known for her cookies (the cookie jar was always full) and her homemade sourdough bread, which she baked every ten days from a starter she had had since the 1970’s.

As a volunteer, Leola loved to serve others and her community. She was a 4-H sewing leader and later a community leader for many years. She invested herself in serving the churches in Atlanta, Burrton, Longton, and Douglass: Sunday School teacher and superintendent, VBS teacher and organizer, member of the United Methodist Women/Women of Faith, and numerous committees. She was a member of Eastern Star and PEO. She was also very active in the Kansas Rural Letter Carriers Auxiliary, serving on its executive board as state president and later as chaplain. After retiring and moving to Douglass, she volunteered at the Douglass Senior Center for many years before Duane’s health required she be home with him.

She is remembered as a sweet, compassionate friend and a strong and loving mother. Her spunk and vitality were an inspiration to all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her brother, Joe and Kay Hall, her children: Susan and Ron Wrampe, Gregg and Jo Ellen Little, and Lynette and Randy Pearce; her grandchildren: Jarrod Wrampe, Megan Blackburn, Sara Randall, Rachel Talley, Aimee Bastian, and Ashley Shilts; 19 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and many nieces, nephews and friends who will miss her.

Leola was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Duane; her sisters Marcile Schooley and Marilyn Chilcott; and great-granddaughter October Shilts.

Visitation 2-8pm Wednesday, June 11, with family present 6-8pm, Smith Mortuary in Derby. Funeral services 2pm Thursday, June 12, Douglass United Methodist Church, Douglass, Kansas, followed by interment in the Douglass Cemetery.

Memorials have been established with the Douglass United Methodist Church, and the Douglass Senior Center.