1908
Lucy
2012
Lucy Leuze Pries
May 23, 1908 — September 16, 2012
L ucy Elizabeth Payne Leuze Pries was born in Brown County, Kansas on May 23, 1908 to Charles and May Henry Payne and had an older brother, Lester (1904-1985). She was baptized in the Sabetha Methodist Church. She passed at the age of 104 on Sept. 16, 2012 in Aurora, Colorado.
Lucy
graduated from Sabetha H.S. in 1926 as a cheerleader who instituted the Pep Squad and helped initiate the School Song that is still used today.
Sabetha was always dear to her and she attended many H.S. Alumni Banquets including her "86th Reunion" most recently May, 2012 as the oldest attendee. She loved her school friends and activities including school plays, oration competitions along with playing various music instruments and dancing.
She once filled in for the ill calliope player when the Circus came to town.
After graduating, Lucy worked on the Sabetha Switchboard and later at Duckwalls.
In 1928, she married her childhood sweetheart, Robert
F. Leuze who worked at Swift and Company, moving to many different locations.
Lucy was a housewife until Bob's death in 1950.
She had a 20-year career from 1952-1972 at the Air Force Finance Center in Denver.
She and Robert have one daughter, Mary Alice Blythe whom she lived with most of the past five years in Aurora, Colorado.
Lucy was married to Carl Pries from 1963 until his death in 1978 and had two step-sons from that marriage.
Always active, she enjoyed bowling on leagues until her late 90's.
Family was most important to her whom she shared many of her fond childhood memories; she claimed to have had the best parents and brother anyone could have.
Her motto was "Gratitude Attitude" and she always repeated it cheerfully even when she was recently in the Hospital.
In addition to her daughter, she is survived by three grandchildren:
Janice and Husband George Wilson of Kent, WA; Barbara and Husband Eric Rademacher of Longmont, CO; Bradley and Wife Naren Blythe of Aurora, Colorado.
Five great-grand children:
Eric and Ross Rademacher of Longmont, CO; Jessica, Lindsey and Juliana Blythe of Aurora, CO.
One great-great-grandchild: Kenlee Rademacher of Longmont, CO.
A graveside service will be held Friday, September 21, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the Sabetha Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Hospital.
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