Tena Leatherman

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Tena Leatherman, 86, Walker, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 18, at Barone Alzheimer’s Care Center in Nevada. Tena was born on May 25, 1931, to Jonas and Ida Boehs Schmidt in Addicks, Texas, in Harris County, near Houston.

Tena was raised in Texas and Oklahoma. On March 1, 1944, Tina was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. The Church has always had a special place in her heart. At the age of 21, Tena left home and went to Greasewood, Ariz., and began cooking for up to 60 Navaho children who attended the boarding school there, sponsored by the church. In 1956, Tena became a volunteer at The Hospital (Camp 45) in Chihuahua, Mexico, where she cared for handicapped children in the children’s home there before returning home nine years later in 1965. On April 17, 1966, Tena was married to Herbert Leatherman in Fairview, Okla. In that one month before her 35th birthday, she became a minister’s wife and a mother to seven children ages 2-12 who had lost their mother. In 1967, Tena and Herbert settled on a dairy farm near Walker, when Herbert accepted a pastor position for a new congregation in Walker where they resided the remainder of their married lives.

Tena had her own large garden, enjoyed caring for her family and supporting her husband in the ministry. She was very hospitable and enjoyed cooking for others.

Survivors include her children, Raquel Schmidt and her husband Steve, Walker, Paul Leatherman and his wife Carolyn, Walker, Tim Leatherman and his wife Kendra, of Rich Hill, Marjorie Decker and her husband Rodney, Nevada, Arlene Koehn and her husband Steve, Saragosa, Texas, Hope Hauder and her husband Lynn of Versailles, Mo., Letha Koehn and her husband Marshall, Walker; 30 grandchildren; 48 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Herbert, she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and one sister.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at Living Faith Mennonite Church in Walker with Pastors John Becker, Ron Koehn and Shelby Koehn officiating. Interment will follow in the Living Faith Mennonite Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the Living Faith Mennonite Church to help Foreign Ministry Projects in care of Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff for the wonderful care she received at Barone Care Center.

You may view obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.