Leota Schnell

August 19, 1922 - January 5, 2014

Leota Schnell, age 91 of Keystone, passed away January 5, 2014 at the Perkins County Community Hospital in Grant. Leota was born August 19, 1922 at Keystone, Nebraska to Leonard and Veva (Clapp) Dunwoody. She graduated from Keystone High School before attending, what was then, the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney to become a teacher. Following her education, Leota taught rural school north of Lewellen before taking a position at Bushnell. On June 1, 1947 Leota married Alexander Schnell at the Presbyterian Church in Scottsbluff. The couple farmed near Alliance for a few years before moving to Concord, CA where Leota taught at St. Francis of Assisi Parochial School for 30 years. Upon retiring from teaching, Leota worked at a flower shop, which she greatly enjoyed. In later years she worked in the field of home health. Following the death of her husband in 1996, Leota returned to Keystone to be closer to her roots. Leota enjoyed flowers, gardening, ceramics, needlework, crafts and crossword puzzles. Chief among her enjoyments was her family, especially her nieces and nephews. Leota attended a bi-weekly ladies bible study at Lemoyne Senior Center. In recent years she visited at the nursing home weekly where she joined with others in singing with the residents at Indian Hills and Wel-Cove in Ogallala. Leota was a longtime member of the Methodist Church in Concord, CA. She was also a member of the Martin Bay Community Church at Keystone. Leota was preceded in death by her husband; 3 sisters, Iva Jean Rothwell, Twylah Raye Stallings, Shirley June Slape; and a brother, Lawrence Albert Dunwoody. Survivors include 2 brothers, Elton Duane (Lois) Dunwoody of Keystone, Jerrold Allen (Sonnely) Dunwoody of Oroville, CA; 21 nieces and nephews; a multitude of grand nieces and nephews; along with many other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her memory. Condolences may be shared at gubserfuneralhome.com. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 10, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the Martin Bay Community Church in Keystone with Pastor Bill Forbes officiating. Inurnment will be at 2 p.m. at the Ogallala Cemetery. Visitation for memorial book signatures will be from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Gubser Funeral Home in Ogallala. Gubser Funeral Home in Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.