Lenita Foley

Lenita Foley, 63, of Creston passed away Friday, April 6, 2018, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. Lenita had a very strong Christian faith which carried her through this battle longer than doctors expected.

Celebration of life services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 12, at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Creston. Pastor Tony Thurston and Pastor Jim Werner will officiate. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, south of Creston. Open visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday with family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Powers Funeral Home, 601 New York Ave., in Creston. Memorials are to Creston Animal Rescue Effort or Operation Christmas Child - Samaritan's Purse. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.

Lenita Routh Foley, daughter of Lee Routh and Oneita (Harter) Routh, was born Aug. 11, 1954, in Des Moines. She graduated from Diagonal High School in 1973.

On June 11, 1977, Lenita married Jon Foley at the First Christian Church in Creston.

Lenita taught vision impairment and braille as a traveling teacher to many students in central Missouri school districts. She also taught vision and braille at the Kauffman Foundation French Magnet School in Kansas City, Missouri. In addition, she worked for the state of Missouri, teaching in their First Steps Program, with blind infant children. Lenita graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in education, and then obtained her Master Certification in Vision from University of Missouri School for the Blind at St. Louis, Missouri.

Lenita resigned from teaching to care for her father one year, until he passed away. Then she cared for her mother for 10 years, until she learned she had pancreatic cancer.

Lenita’s other love was caring for her four-legged pets. She had many cats and dogs as her family over the years, and was very active in the Creston and Ray County, Missouri, animal rescue leagues.

Lenita was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of Creston and had a very strong Christian faith and shared this faith with many people.

Lenita is survived by her husband Jon, married 40 years plus; her mother Oneita Routh; a brother Arden Routh of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; nephew Alex Routh of California and brother-in-law Don Foley of Ames. Lenita is also survived by special cousin (like a sister) Gayle (Denny) Herring and many other cousins, aunts and friends.

Lenita was preceded in death by her father Lee; grandparents, Bill and Electa Harter and Frank L. and Carrie A. Routh and her parents-in-laws, Joe and Evelyn Foley.

Lenita loved to travel to Colorado as a child, and after she and Jon got married. She also enjoyed her many trips with Jon to bankers’ conferences, meeting spouses and making new friends from all of the U.S. and Canada.

Her 35-month journey battling pancreatic cancer, which went to the brain, then her spine and rib cage, and finally settling in her lungs, showing amazing faith with Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Spirit.

Lenita touched many children and adults with her faith in Jesus Christ. Lenita had a passion for Franklin Graham’s Ministry of the Operation Christmas Child - Samaritan’s Purse.