Leota Maro Dormire Kline

Leota Maro Dormire Kline Leota Maro Dormire Kline died on Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at 6:36 P.M., at the age of 106, at Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton, Indiana. She had attributed her longevity to “hard work” and “lots of sunshine.” Leota was born on March 9, 1901, in Rockcreek Township in Wells County to William Alfred and Rosa (Maddux) Haiflich, and she was the second child in a family of two boys and two girls. They lived on a farm near Uniondale, where one of her chores was to split wood and carry it to the house. Her family often visited Uncle Eli whose house stood on the ground where the stone quarry in Bluffton is today. After attending Haiflich School in Rockcreek Township for eight years, Leota entered Markle High School. To get to class, she drove the horse and buggy to Grandpa Haiflich’s house in Markle, and then walked the rest of the way. When the weather was bad, she stayed overnight. After graduating in 1920, she spent the summer at Manchester College where she received a teaching license in 1921. She returned to Haiflich School (a one-room school) where she taught for two years, earning $3.50 a day. In addition to her teaching duties, her job was to build the fire, sweep the room, carry in the coal, take out the ashes, and bank the fire for the night. Leota met Charles E. Dormire when she was a junior in high school. Their first date took them to Robison Park in Fort Wayne where they rode on the roller coaster. During their courtship Charlie first drove a horse and buggy, then a Model T Ford. They were married on February 16, 1923, in Huntington, Indiana, on a day when the temperature plummeted to 16 below zero. Charlie and Leota moved to a farm on State Road 116 where Leota helped by driving the horses that pulled the combine and shucking corn in the fall. Here also their son Lex was born. When Lex was four, the Dormires moved to the edge of Uniondale and lived there until Charlie died on March 7, 1963. Five years later, Leota married Dewey S. Kline on August 17, 1968, in Uniondale, Indiana. He died on December 13, 1971. Church was always a big part of Leota’s life. As a child, she went to Sparks Methodist Church in the country, and Horeb Lutheran Church near the Wabash River. After marriage, she attended St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Uniondale. Even though farm life required constant work, Leota made time for other interests. She liked to crochet and knit. She loved to work in the kitchen. At age 62 she began working as a cook at Rockcreek Elementary School, where she served for ten years. And she loved Indiana Hoosier basketball. Above all, Leota’s greatest passion was her family. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She lived at her home in Uniondale until she turned 100 and then moved to Christian Care Retirement Community in Bluffton, Indiana. She was also an active member of the Uniondale Women’s Bible Study Group, and she was a member of the Friendly Neighbors Home Economics Club. She is survived by one son, Lex D. Dormire of Uniondale; two stepchildren, D. B. Kline of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Joan M. Benson of Huntington; two granddaughters, Abigail D. Powers of Fort Wayne and Anne K. Galluzzo of Cincinnati, Ohio; nine step-grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; seventeen step-great-grandchildren; and two step-great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by one stepson, Don D. Kline; two brothers, Raymond Haiflich and Jay Haiflich; and one sister, Dessie Sparks. Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, July 14, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Uniondale, Indiana, with Pastor John Sturz officiating. Calling hours will be from 2:00-4:00 P.M. and from 6:00-8:00 P.M. Friday at Thoma/Rich, Hewitt & Chaney Funeral Home. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Bluffton, Indiana. Preferred memorials are to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Uniondale, Indiana. Friends may send their condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.

Leota Maro Dormire Kline

March 9, 1901 - July 10, 2007