Zelda Leatherwood

Zelda Louise (Moss) Leatherwood departed this life on July 26, 2022, at her home in Westville, Oklahoma at the age of 88 years. She was a loving wife, daughter, sister, mother and a doting Granny and Ol’ Granny.

Zelda was born in Clearfork, Oklahoma on July 19, 1934, to Mattie Evelyn and O.H. Moss. She attended Clearfork Schools to 8th grade and then graduated from Westville High School in 1951. She was the middle daughter and her best friends growing up were her older sister Nina June and younger sister Ida Mae. She married the love of her life J.D. (James David) Leatherwood on May 2, 1952. J.D. lied about his age to get Zelda to go out with him and she didn’t know that he was younger than her until he enlisted in the Army. They were married 57 years before his passing on April 13, 2009. To this union was born three sons. Their oldest son Jeral David was born while J.D. was in the Army. Their middle son Randy Lee was born in Kansas City, Kansas and youngest son Kenneth Ray was born in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Zelda was a homemaker and her most important role was being a mom and granny. Right or wrong, her children and grandchildren could always count on her to take their side.

Throughout her life Zelda loved taking road trips with family. Oftentimes, the road trips included her sons’ friends which she and J.D. would always treat like their own. After the boys left home, she and J.D. enjoyed many additional miles together seeing sights. Road trips also included all the grandchildren which created fun memories of staying at the Caprice and HiHo in Branson and riding “Fire in the Hole” at Silver Dollar City. Numerous trips to Colorado and Branson included her sisters, brothers-in-law, and her mama. All vacations were filled with laughter and shenanigans.

Zelda attended Clearfork Community Church most of her life. She loved church get togethers and fellowship. She organized many Christmas programs where she always made sure everyone had a part. She enjoyed worship through singing, especially as a trio with her sisters. Zelda was a poet and wrote many poems that expressed her love of the Lord and her family. Her humorous poems and her reciting of them entertained the family at many holiday gatherings.

Her husband J.D., her parents; sister: Nina June Tillery and husband Junior, sister: Ida Mae Self and husband Richard, her son: Jeral; along with parents-in-law: William D. and Joanna Leatherwood, sister-in-law: Georgie Leatherwood, brother-in-law: Bob Leatherwood, and grandson: Jeremy Wright preceded Zelda in death.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law: Randy and Judy Leatherwood of Westville, Oklahoma, and Kenny and Kim Leatherwood of Chandler, Oklahoma, six grandchildren: Jayme Leatherwood, Jason Wright, Kenli Stanfill, Garrett Leatherwood, Grant Leatherwood, Chelsea VanDyke, nine great grandchildren: Madilyn and Malia Martin, Riley and Jaxon Stanfill, Jaylee and Ridge Leatherwood, Jett and Greyson Leatherwood, Andie Jane Leatherwood, and other relatives.