Leonida Jean "Skeeter" (Lee) Garland, age 91, of Wichita, Kansas died at Concordia of Bella Vista in Bella Vista, Arkansas on July 20, 2024. She was born in Hay Springs, Nebraska on March 28, 1933, to the late John and Gladys (Spittler) Ray. She had two brothers, Harold and Ronald Ray.

She was raised on the Mirage Flats south of Hay Springs and graduated from Hay Springs High School. She went to Chadron State Teacher's College one summer and then taught for several years in a country school in Sand Hills south of Rushville, Nebraska.

Leonida married Fred Garland in 1951. They had three children, Denny, Mike, and Laurie. They moved to Salus, Arkansas, where Fred helped his father in the lumber business. Then moving to Wichita, Kansas where Leonida graduated from Wichita State University; and taught for 3 years. She and Fred moved to Rogers, Arkansas where she taught for 17 years. She taught 5th and 6th grade at Garfield School. She was named Administrative Head of the school in 1969. She would then go on to teach 6th grade at Southside School in Rogers through the late 1970's. She was a member of the National Association of Elementary Education throughout her teaching career; and belonged to the AEA.

In 1979 she moved back to Wichita, Kansas where she continued working with children. She had her own Pre-School/Day Care for 3 years in Sterling, Kansas. She was a professional live-in nanny for 11 years. She worked for the Catholic Charites Foster Grandparents for 8 years where she tutored elementary students.

She joined the Women of the Moose and has been an active supporter ever since. She was a member of the Epworth UMC.

Leonida lived to dance! She and her long-time partner, Rod won two big dance competitions. They won 1st place in the Oklahoma State Fair Dance in 1999 and 1st place in the World War II Style Hanger Dance in 2000 in Wichita Kansas. Both dances had over 1000 contestants.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, John Ray and Gladys Ray; husband, Fred Garland; brothers, Harold Ray and Ronny Ray; son, Michael Garland; and granddaughter, Mendy Jo Wells.

She is survived by her son, Denny Garland, of Hartman, Arkansas; daughter, Laurie J. Garland of Wichita, Kansas; seven grandchildren, Laneya "Nikki" Nicole Taylor (Shane) of Gravette, Arkansas, James Michael Garland of Cave Springs, Arkansas, Marshall Ray Crawford (Marisela) of Thibodaux, Louisiana, John Ryan Garland (Brittany) of Gravette, Arkansas, Hannah Pouliet of Cashion, Oklahoma, Harrison Marshall of Wichita, Kansas, and Connor Marshall of Wichita Kansas; and 10 great-grandchildren, Skyler, KayLinn, Jeremy, Corby, Marco, Micah, Sebastian, LaKendra, Liarra, and Amara.

Arrangements are by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.