Leola Sumner Neumayer

Leola Sumner Neumayer (Lee) passed away in the early morning hours of May 6, 2023. Leola was 93.

Leola was the third of three children born to William N and Edna A Sumner of Troy, Idaho. She was born in Moscow on August 28, 1929.  The family moved to Troy in the early 1930’s from the family farm on Big Bear Ridge West of Troy so the children could complete their education.

Leola was active and ambitious and enjoyed school. She excelled in her classwork and was honored as Valedictorian her Senior Year at Troy High School, graduating in 1947.  She enrolled at the University of Idaho the following fall, pledging to the Alpha Phi Sorority. She finished college in three and a half years with a bachelor’s degree in English.

She met George Neumayer at the University, and they were married February 17, 1951, in Troy. This union lasted 72 years.  The began their married life in Richland, WA where they were both employed at Hanford Engineering Works. George later accepted a 2-year assignment in Southern Ohio at a similar facility, where Leola was also employed.  In 1955 they moved to Spokane where George had accepted employment.

Later that same year, their first child Pamela was born. Their second daughter, Julie was born in 1958 and third daughter, Terri followed in 1960. In 1961 George accepted new employment as the Personnel Director at Idaho Department of Highways and the family moved to Boise’s North End. In 1966 their family was complete with the birth of their only son Joseph (Skip).

Leola was always a busy and devoted housewife, using homemaking skills she learned from her mother to raise their children. She used her English degree to ensure all her children learned proper grammar and spelling. Outside the home, Leola was active in all of their children’s activities including school, church, and sports. She was a serious Bridge player, meeting monthly with the same group for many years. She was a longtime member of PanHellenic, representing Alpha Phi. As a full time, wife and mother, Leola also spent numerous tax seasons at the Idaho State Tax Commission, eventually becoming an Accountant. Together George and Leola were members of the United First Methodist Church, Cathedral of the Rockies for over 50 years.

As retirement approached, George and Leola became avid Square Dancers and members of the Capitol Squares in Boise.  They participated in many square-dancing events in Idaho and Yuma, AZ where they spent their winters for 20 years. Each year they found time to travel to a different location in the world and spent summers at their lakeside cabin in Donnelly, Idaho.

Leola was preceded in death by her parents and siblings and is survived by her husband George, her 4 children and their spouses, 9 Grandchildren and 6 Great-Grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at the Cathedral of the Rockies.