It is with a saddened heart that we share with the world, the loss of an amazing woman. Our mother, Leta Marie Mansfield, 78, of Arcadia, Florida left this world on April 20, 2012 and joined the love of her life, Isaiah (Ike) Mansfield. Leta was born June 17, 1933 in Campo, Colorado and was raised as a ranch girl and survived the dust bowl. She met Ike (the first and only man she ever kissed) at a skating rink in Durango, Colorado, they fell in love and were married for fifty two years. After they married, they traveled across the United States, living in Washington, Texas, Colorado and Florida. Along the way, with five children in tow, she braved tornados, hail storms, blizzards and hurricanes. They settled in DeSoto County, Florida in August of 1979.
Leta was a very business oriented and visionary woman. She was owner and operator of businesses, such as: Ike Mansfield Trucking (Arcadia, Florida), Mansfield Chevron Oil Company and Distributorship, which supplied the western slope of Colorado., Mansfield Wrecker, and the first pre-pay (dollar bills only), 24 hour gas station called "Gee Whiz" in Montrose, Colorado. Leta also had a softer side. She entered the fair one year for canning and baking and won the blue ribbon for Homemaker of the Year. She was also an animal lover. She raised parakeets for pet stores, rabbits, cows and chickens. She sold eggs and even sold rabbits to visiting British Soldiers.
Leta was an outstanding woman of character and is survived by her daughters; Rhonda Mixon, of Arcadia, Florida, Melinda (Lee) Crites, of Nocatee, Florida, Lorna (Steve) Johnson, of Arcadia, Florida, Marilyn Woodard, of Arcadia, Florida, son, Michael Mansfield and wife, Nancy Nelson, brothers Dale (Sammy) Cramer of Syracuse, Kansas, Lynn (Lilly) Cramer, of Pritchet, Colorado, 13 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Leta was preceded in death by her husband, Ike Mansfield, her parents; Wayne and Mattie Cramer, brother, Ivan (Carol) Cramer, and grandson, Rigel Locke.
Visiting hours will be Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 from 6-8 pm in the chapel of Robarts Funeral Home, Arcadia, Florida. A graveside service, officiated by Pastor R. Englert, will be @ 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 26th at Joshua Creek Cemetery, followed by a luncheon, served by the Order of the Eastern Star, in the banquet hall of the Holiday Inn Express of Arcadia. Dishes will be accepted.
Arrangements are by Robarts Funeral Home, Arcadia, Florida.