MILTON-FREEWATER – Leota Perkins, 88, of Milton-Freewater died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center in Milton-Freewater. A private family service will be held in the spring. Inurnment was at the Grandview Cemetery in La Grande.

Mrs. Perkins was born Aug. 6, 1921, in Ornogo, Mo., to O.B. and Gertrude May (Kern) Westover. She moved to Hood River at the age of 16 and married Cliff Perkins. Together the couple had three children; the marriage later ended in divorce.

She moved to Victorville, Calif., and married Cecil Fleshman. They adopted a daughter. Cecil later passed away. She married George Perkins and they spent many years together until his death in 1991. She settled in Milton-Freewater in 1996.

Survivors include her daughter, Elizabeth Fleshman of Milton-Freewater; son John Fleshman of Redmond; adopted daughter Darlene King of Alaska; stepdaughter Mad- elda Baird of Milton-Freewater; 17 grand- children; and numerous great- grandchildren, great-great- grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Cecil and George; son Jimmy Perkins; stepsons Elbridge Fleshman and Verland Fleshman; and two sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center in care of the Munselle-Rhodes Funeral Home, 902 S. Main, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862.