Leona Fay Beyers, 72, of Tonasket passed away at home on Oct. 20, 2010 after a long battle with cancer.

Leona was born Nov. 28, 1937 to Carl E. and Olive N. Wilson of Sunnyslope. She grew up on Easy Street and went to school in Sunnyslope until ninth grade and graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1956. She had many good friends from Wenatchee that she remained close with her entire life. She was athletic, enjoyed hunting and fishing with her family and friends and was very active in the Sunnyslope Church.

After school Leona joined Brethren Volunteer Services and in 1957 she spent a year in Chicago doing mission service. Back in Wenatchee she worked as a bookkeeper for Midstate Electronic Supply where she met Ralph Beyers whom she married in 1961.

The early years of her marriage were spent on the west side of the state during which time she and Ralph had two children. In 1966 she and her husband moved to Tonasket where she remained for the rest of her life.

During her early years in Tonasket she was a homemaker, worked in the school cafeteria and for the Smith and Nelson Warehouse. About 1971 Ralph and Leona went into business starting with TV repair and sales and branching out into auto licensing and later adding a gift shop. Because of being in business for 39 years they had many friends and acquaintances in the community and were known by almost everyone in town. In 2002 they were Grand Marshals for the Tonasket Founders Day parade.

Being a part of the community was very important to Leona and gave her a great sense of pride and joy. Whenever a fund raiser was going on she gladly donated items from her gift shop and was often seen at dinners and auctions supporting whatever cause was being promoted. On holidays her pies could often be found at the local food bank dinners or on a friends supper table. She loved to bake pies and cookies and make candies that were highly prized as gifts.

When her children were growing up she enjoyed watching the sporting and musical events they were in and even after her children graduated high school she still went to many games and state tournaments and supported the athletic boosters and the marching band.

The rest of her family was also very important to Leona and she maintained a close relationship with her extended family and grandchildren. Having her grandchildren spend the summer was especially fun for her and she loved taking them on trips to Canada and shopping and once accompanied two of her granddaughters to Disney Land.

In her later years Leona took up walking and often would be seen traveling up Airport Road with her good friend, Rose. Together with Rose and some of her other friends she participated in many Bloomsday walks in Spokane.

Leona is survived by her husband of 49 years, Ralph W. Beyers and her children: Monica (Richard) Bartz of Lake Stevens and Paul (Lana) Beyers of Vancouver; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Carl E. Wilson; her mother, Olive N. Wilson (Ulrich); and her brothers: Earl Wilson, Arnold Wilson and Lyle Wilson.

The Beyers family would like to thank all Leona’s wonderful for the loving care and support they gave our wife and mother in this difficult time in her life. We would also like to thank North County Hospice for their excellent care and services that they so willingly provided that allowed Leona to be home with her family during her final days.

A memorial service will be celebrated at the Ellisforde Church of the Brethren in Tonasket on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. Memorials may be made to Cancer Care of NCW, “Our House”, 17108 Castle Rock Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801 or Amedisys Hospice of Omak, 800 S. Jasmine St. Suite 3, Omak, WA 98841.

Arrangements are assisted by Bergh Funeral Service of Oroville/Tonasket.