Leota Hortense Mann

Leota Hortense (McDaniel) Mann, affectionately known as "Tense" and "Ma Mann" by her friends and family, went to be with the Lord on February 1, 2016 at her home in Weatherford, Texas. Leota was born August 30, 1924 in San Saba, Texas to Lela Roberta and William Isaac McDaniel. She was the fifth of six siblings and a fourth generation Texan. She was a "country girl" who, in her early years, loved to pick fruit, pick up pecans, gather eggs and work in the garden. She walked a mile to catch the school bus and often rode on the back of a horse for transportation. She was crowned Football Sweetheart her junior year and was a cheerleader her junior and senior years. She graduated from Richland Springs High School in 1943 where she excelled in softball, volleyball and tennis. On a Saturday night in the summer of 1943, her high school beau proposed to her at Wallace Creek. She accepted and shortly thereafter, she and Raymond Edgar Mann married on January 31, 1944. She often remarked how incredibly happy she was to be Mrs. Raymond Mann. Only a few days after their honeymoon, Raymond joined the Army and fought in WW II in France. During that time, Leota, remained in San Saba. Upon Raymond's return from the War, they initially took up residence in San Antonio, then they relocated to Ft Worth where she worked for a number of years at Montgomery Ward. After years of hard work, they established their long term residence on the 243 acre ranch they bought just outside Gibtown, Texas. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved the ranch, she loved to garden where she grew the best tomatoes in the world, she loved to cook and she loved to be with her family. She was a Christian and a long-time member of Gibtown Baptist Church. She was always unselfish in her eagerness to help others, she loved her dog, Radar, she was quick to find table scraps to feed the stray cats and she enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune. For years, she volunteered at the Clothes Closet, a community sponsored charity organization in Jacksboro Texas. She is survived by her son Rodney Mann, daughter Rhonda and husband Mike Lasley, daughter-in-law Paula Mann, along with nine grandchildren, Crystal Hauk, Jamie Adams, Mindi Polny, Joe Mann, Chad Mann, Brad Mann, Jason Mann, Toby Lasley and Justin Lasley and nineteen great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Raymond, her son Randy, her son Rudy and her sisters Loree, Eizabeth and Lummie and her brothers Woodrow and Joe Bob. When asked what she most wanted to be remembered for she said, "being a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, neighbor and friend, for being a sharing and giving person. I've enjoyed sharing and giving things I grew in the garden and things that I cooked". Her hopes and dreams for her family are: always do your best in whatever you attempt to do and stay close to God. Pray a lot".

Leota Hortense Mann

August 30, 1924 - February 1, 2016