St. George, Utah - Leone Pearl Bleak, 94, died January 21,2012 in Temecula California. She was born January 13, 1918 near Crookston, Nebraska to Chloe Inez and Harve Hixson. She was married to James Arthur Fergus from 1940 to 1956 they had two Children James Dale and Shana Lee. She remarried on September 17, 1966 to Lloyd Sheldon Bleak. Lloyd and James Dale preceeded her in death. She was the fifth child and third daughter of Chloe Inez and Harve Millard Hixson. Her siblings Vera, Harold, Inez, Arden, Alice and Lola have all preceeded her.

She was a very active, outgoing child loving the outdoor activities over the home chores. She never took up the hobby of reading for if her mother knew she was in the house, she would find something for her to do. Her father worked for several different jobs necessitating moving from house to house, one year was spent on a farm.

She was active in the Methodist church loving the youth activities and parties. Unfortunately when she was a senior in high school, a new minister said that face cards, dice which they played Cootie with, and dancing were evil and tried to stop the activities. She stopped attending church and then after graduation, it was easy not to attend due to work schedules. She never picked up the habit again.

After graduation from high school she went to work for a boarding house as a housecleaner along with her sister, Inez. She became a waitress for Dalton's Caf in Hastings Nebraska.

The couple moved around for several years throughout the United States due to Jim's work with Douglas-McDonald Aircraft. The couple usually lived in hotels due to the length of the assignment. She worked for Mode-O-Day as a seamstress for several years.

After her divorce in 1956, she moved to Tucson with the children where she went to work for Hughes Tool and Die and then Pima Mines. She lived very frugally but was able to encourage her children to participate in many activities. James was active in Civil Air Patrol and Boy Scouts of America. Shana was a Rainbow girl and twirled baton and was active in the church choir. Leone made steadfast and life-long friends (Nell, Dwella, Jo, Sue, Sylvia and Bernice just to name a few) while in Tucson,

A second marriage occurred on September 17, 1966 to Lloyd S. Bleak. She moved to Phoenix and went to work for Southwest Kenworth. After retirement, the couple moved to Pine Valley where they became active in the Good Sam Camping group. They had a motor home which they enjoyed going out to the many locations in Southern Utah camping, fishing, and enjoying the friendship of the group.

She moved to California to be close to her daughter, Shana, when her husband, Lloyd needed special attention due to alzheimers. She had her own apartment for several years until Shana and husband, David, built a home with a room dedicated to her. Here she was able to have a dog.Suzi Too and then Roxie

She was a very loving, considerate, helpful friend to family and friends alike. She had lived a hard life and overcame many financial obstacles which gave her insight in financial advice. She kept in contact with each of her five grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and now one great grandchild. She has also tried to keep in contact with Lloyd's children and grandchildren. (over 40 from several families)

While in Pine Valley, Lloyd and Leone had a big garden and canned the results. She had a friend, Marion Sanberg, who included her in the Relief Society homemaking nights or taught her the many crafts she had learned. She was also active with a tole painting group making many Christmas ornaments and other decorations. She became adept at creating ornaments and other items with plastic canvas.

She was a very competitive Scrabble player which her grandchildren and families enjoyed pitting themselves against her. She didn't like to lose so you had to be on your toes to have a good score when playing with her.

Funeral services will be held Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Metcalf Mortuary Chapel, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah. A visitation will be held Monday, prior to services, at 10:00 a.m. at the Mortuary. Interment will follow at Tonaquint Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to Metcalf Mortuary (435) 673-4221.