Leota Spence was the eighth child of Henry Jefferson Spence and Mary Anna Ratliff, born in December 1904 in Crawford County, Kansas1. Leota is found living with her parents and siblings in Baker, Crawford County, Kansas in the 1905 census2, 1910 census3, 1915 census4, and 1920 census5.
When Leota was 16 she married Lorenzo John Carmel6. Lorenzo was born June 10, 1897 in Marseille, France7 or in Torino, Piemonte, Italy8 to Francesca Catterina Bogino and Fedele Carlo Carmellino. Lorenzo arrived in New York aboard the La Champagne on November 11, 19009. Lorenzo, owner of a General Store, and Leota were living in Baker, Crawford County, Kansas in 1930 with their two daughters, Kathryn and Delores; Lorenzo’s father lived on one side and Leota’s mother and sister lived on the other10. The family was living on Grant Avenue in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas in 1936, where Lorenzo was a grocer11 at his own meat market on East 14th Street12.
On August 12, 1936 Lorenzo was found shot 6 times in the region of his heart in the family’s bathroom13. He was then buried in Mount Olive Cemetery in Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas14.
By 1938 Leota was living with her new husband, David L Overbay, on South Ashby in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas15. The couple is still living on South Ashby in 1940, with Leota’s two daughters and the couple’s daughter, Leota’s third daughter; David is working as a brakeman on the steam railroad16. David and Leota are living on South Santa Fe in 195317. David died in 1956 in Kansas18.
Through 1960 Leota was living with her fourth daughter in Chanute, Neosho, Kansas19. Leota continued to live in Chanute, Kansas through 196320.
At some point after 1963, Leota married Mr. Berg. She passed away February 18, 1985 in Chanute, Kansas and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute21.
Children
- Kathryn Ann Carmel was born May 18, 1921 in Cherokee, Crawford County, Kansas and died October 9, 199322. She married Living Summers23. The couple had two children.
- Living Son Summers
- Bill Randall Summers was born September 21, 1946 in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas and died March 23, 200724.
- Delores Jean Carmel was born June 30, 1926 in Crawford County, Kansas and died May 1, 2013 in Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas25. She married Richard Dale Moyer, born June 8, 1924 in Smith Center, Smith County, Kansas and died February 16, 2006 in Kansas City, Wyandotte County, Kansas26. The couple had 7 children.
- Living Son Moyer
- Rickie Lynn Moyer was born March 10, 1949 in Chanute, Neosho County, Kansas and died April 11, 200527.
- Living Son Moyer
- Living Daughter Moyer
- Living Daughter Moyer
- Living Son Moyer
- Living Daughter Moyer
- Living Daughter Overbay
- Living Daughter Overbay