Leona Julia (Schmidt) Tuttle passed away on June 10, 2012 at the Gove County Medical Center at the age of 76 years 11 months and 16 days. Leona was born in Grainfield, Kansas, at home on June 25, 1935. The family then moved to Quinter in 1942. She married John (Jim) Tuttle on August 11, 1952.

Leona graduated from Quinter High School in 1953. After marrying, they lived in the Quinter area. Jim and Leona moved to the farm in the Gove area in 1956 and Leona still lived on the home place known as Tiffany Ranch. Her passion in life was her nine children. She was the wife of a farmer and water well driller, homemaker, and enjoyed the outdoors. She was a sports enthusiast and the number one fan of all her children and grandchildren's sports, school, church and 4-H activities. She enjoyed playing bridge with the local club. She also liked sharing her crafts with others.
Leona worked at Gove County Medical Center as a housekeeper for 11 years. She was also a secretary at Aqua Pump for several years. She served on Payne Township election board for many years and served as a census worker for the United States Government.

She was a charter member of the Gove County Historical Association, Gove County Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, and Valhalla Club. She was a community and project leader of Hackberry 4-H Club, EHU Modern Homemakers, EHU Go-Getters, Sew-and-So Club, Utopian Club member, Gove Community Improvement Association, Wheatland Education Foundation, the neighborhood "Come as you are" coffee, and women's church organizations. Leona helped sponsor several UMYF trips. She was a member of the Gove Community Bible Church.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents John and Myrtle Schmidt and husband John "Jim" Tuttle. She is survived by six daughters, three sons, 23 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren: Gwen Kramer and husband David of Meriden, KS: Dolores "Lorsey" Thompson and husband Earl of Olathe, KS: Rose Packard and husband Charles of Grainfield, KS: Sandra Lonas and husband Ralph Jr. of Moneta, VA: Rita Shogren and husband Mark of Satanta, KS: Jon Tuttle and wife Deb of Scott City, KS: Von Tuttle and wife Cristy of Gove, KS: Lana Durkee of Flagstaff, AZ: Leon Tuttle and wife Donna of Gove, KS. She is also survived by three sisters, Gloria Fellhoelter of Show Low, AZ: Ruth Goff and husband Raymond of Ulysses, KS: Cecelia Bird and husband Eldon of Quinter, KS and nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to Gove County Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary, Wheatland Education Foundation, Gove Community Bible Church, or Gove County Historical Association.

Visitation will be at the Schmitt Funeral Home in Quinter on Wednesday from 6:30-8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 14 at 10:00 at the Gove Community Bible Church.