Leola “Lea” Elizabeth Ehrhardt, age 84, of Curtis Creek Retirement Home, formerly of 2601 Ehrhardt Rd., Quincy, died on Friday, June 22, 2012 in Good Samaritan Home. She was born on August 2, 1927 in Quincy, a daughter of Leo & Margaret (Klauser) Wellman. She married Roger Ehrhardt on May 18, 1946 in St. Anthony Church, Quincy and he preceded her in death on May 9, 2004. Lea proudly received her GED in 1996 at the age of 68. She had worked from 1944 to 1946 at Illinois Bell Telephone as a switchboard operator. She then worked 1963-68 at Adams Electric Cooperative as a food demonstrator. From 1969 until her retirement in 1989 Lea worked in the cafeteria at Moorman Mfg. Company where she was affectionately known as the “Salad Lady”. At the time of her retirement, she was the assistant manager. Lea was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church.

While raising her children, Lea was very involved in all their activities at church, school and 4H. She loved to grow flowers and always had a large vegetable garden. Christmas was her favorite holiday as she would make several varieties of candy and cookies and give them to family and friends. She was a devoted caregiver for her husband for 17 years before he moved to the Veterans Home. The past five years Lea lived at Curtis Creek Retirement Center where she made many new friends and thoroughly enjoyed her time there. Lea was a loving and caring person and will be missed by her family & friends. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy.

The family would like to extend their appreciation for the loving care that Lea received from the staff at Blessing Hospital, Good Samaritan Home, and Blessing Hospice.

She is survived by four daughters, Vickie Arnold and her husband Frank of Liberty, IL, Kathye Niekamp and her husband Gary of Fowler, IL, Norma Kamphaus and her husband Randy of Athens, GA and Lynne Wooden and her husband Lonnie of Springfield, IL; a brother Marvin Wellman of Quincy; sisters Eadie Edwards and her husband Paul of Payson, IL and Mildred Spring and her husband Robert of Quincy; nine grandchildren, Michelle (Darin) Shank, Frank Arnold, Aaron (Alice) Arnold, Jason Niekamp, Stacey (Brian) Reed, Ashley (H.J.) Brathwaite, Natalie Kamphaus, Wes (Nancy) Wooden and Anna Wooden; and nine great-grandchildren, Jackson & Zoe Shank, Spencer & Erica Arnold, Carson & Haley Reed, Henry & Lena Brathwaite and Beckett Wooden. Several nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive.

In addition to her husband Roger and her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother Alan Wellman and a sister Irene Bunte.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 9:45 A.M. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home with a funeral mass at 10:30 A.M. in St. Anthony Catholic Church by the Rev. Thomas Hagstrom. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home with a prayer service at 6:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anthony Church, Quincy Notre Dame, Good Samaritan Home or Blessing Foundation for Hospice. www.dukerandhaugh.com