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Cleta Christine McChristian

Cleta Christine McChristian[1]

Female 1928 - 2023  (94 years)

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  • Name Cleta Christine McChristian 
    Birth 23 Oct 1928  Wesley, Madison County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Gender Female 
    Death 10 Aug 2023  Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    • Cleta Christine Leichner
      Fayetteville, AR, 1928 - 2023

      Cleta Christine (McChristian) Leichner, of Fayetteville, passed away on August 10, 2023 at home. She was born October 23rd, 1928 in Wesley, Ark., to Hobart and Allie McChristian.
      She loved her family with all her heart. As a passionate cook, nothing made her happier than to host holiday gatherings surrounded by the whole family. Cleta prepared a weekly Wednesday night dinner for family at her home, for decades. She never knew how many people were coming, but there was always enough for anyone that came. She and Max dedicated their lives to raising and supporting a huge, bountiful, multi-generational family. She belonged to the Church of Christ.
      She married the love of her life, Charles Max Leichner, on February 12, 1947. They had four beautiful children together. She had an incredible gift for making every family member feel special and loved. Every person who walked in her home knew they were welcome. One thing was certain about Cleta: once you were in her family, you were always in her family.
      She is preceded in death by her two parents, three sisters, two brothers, and husband of sixty six years.
      She is survived by two sons, Max Leichner Jr. and wife Angie of Fayetteville and Steve Leichner of Fayetteville; two daughters, Anna Morter and husband Dr. Tom Morter of Rogers and Lori Leichner of Springdale; eight grandchildren, John Leichner and wife Louann of West Fork, Staci Sims and husband Devin of Rogers, Chuck Leichner of Rogers, Justin Dysart and wife Crystal of Fayetteville, Ryan Leichner and wife Jennifer of West Fork, Dr. Sarah Rowden and husband Dr. Josh Rowden of Rogers, Dr. Russell Morter and wife Dr. Lauren Morter of Rogers, and Chase Leichner and wife Tiyler of Fayetteville; 10 great-grandchildren, Braxton Leichner and wife Whitney, Mac Leichner and wife Andrea, Garren Leichner, Morgan Trost and husband Chase, Cade Leichner, Harper Leichner, Evelyn Rowden, Havyn Rowden, Matthew Morter, and Wesley Morter; five great-great-grandchildren, Kasen Leichner, Adalynn Leichner, Ellie Leichner, Eila Leichner, and Tatum Leichner, and honorary grandchildren Brooke Poole and Ayden Rieff.
      Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, August 14th at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 15th at Fairview Memorial Garden. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com.
      Pallbearers will be: John Leichner, Ryan Leichner, Chuck Leichner, Chase Leichner, Dr. Russell Morter, Braxton Leichner, and Mac Leichner. Honorary pallbearers will be: Justin Dysart, Garren Leichner, Devin Sims, Dr. Josh Rowden, Chase Trost, and Cade Leichner.

      Published August 12, 2023
    Person ID I34333  Family
    Last Modified 13 Aug 2023 

    Father Hobert R. McChristian,   b. 25 Nov 1900, Wesley, Madison County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 May 1984, Witter, Madison County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years) 
    Mother Hazel Alberta Boyd,   b. 21 Aug 1898, Wesley, Madison County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Jul 1983, Huntsville, Madison County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 84 years) 
    Family ID F12075  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Charles Leichner,   b. 8 Sep 1926, Mammoth Spring, Fulton County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 14 Apr 2013, Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 86 years) 
    Marriage 12 Feb 1947  [2, 3
    Children 
     1. Max Leichner, Jr.
     2. Steve Leichner
     3. Anna Leichner
     4. Lori Leichner
    Family ID F12077  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 26 Oct 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 23 Oct 1928 - Wesley, Madison County, Arkansas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 10 Aug 2023 - Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Cleta C. McChristian (1928 - 2023)
    Cleta C. McChristian (1928 - 2023)

  • Sources 
    1. [S2927] Find a Grave, 22 December 2016; Hazel Alberta "Allie" Boyd McChristian.
      Hazel Alberta "Allie" Boyd McChristian
      Birth: Aug. 21, 1898
      Wesley
      Madison County
      Arkansas, USA
      Death: Jul. 27, 1983
      Huntsville
      Madison County
      Arkansas, USA
      The Madison County Record
      Huntsville, AR
      4 Aug 1983
      Hazel Alberta McChristian, 84, of Route 1, Wesley, died July 27, 1983, at the Huntsville Memorial Hospital. She was born Aug. 21, 1898 at Wesley, Ark., the daughter of John C. and Cus T. Parks Boyd. She was a member of the Church of Christ.
      Survivors include her husband, Hobart McChristian of the home; one son, Robert McChristian of Fayetteville; four daughters, Mrs. Ruby Gilbert, Mrs. Cleta Leichner and Mrs. Faye Robbins, all of Fayetteville and Mrs. Ora Maggard of Witter; two sisters, Mrs. Susie Falkner of Wesley and Mrs. Mildred Lewis of Fayetteville; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
      Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 29, in the chapel of Brashears Funeral Home with C.J. Jackson, Minister, officiating. Burial was in the Bohannan Cemetery under the direction of Brashears Funeral Home.
      Pallbearers were Steve Leichner, Wayne Robbins, Larry Maggard, Jerry Lewis, Gleason Lawson and Dean Gilbert.
       Family links: 
       Parents:
        John Calvin Boyd (1872 - 1938)
        Cussie Tennesee Parks Boyd (1872 - 1936)
        Spouse:
        Hobart Robert McChristian (1900 - 1984)
        Children:
        Ruby Ilene McChristian Gilbert (1922 - 2015)*
        Ora Belle McChristian Maggard (1924 - 2007)*
        Siblings:
        Hazel Alberta Boyd McChristian (1898 - 1983)
        Susan Ann Boyd Falkner (1901 - 2004)*
        Melvin Boyd (1904 - 1928)*
        Marion Ernest Boyd (1907 - 1973)*
       Burial:
      Bohannan Mountain Cemetery
      Huntsville
      Madison County
      Arkansas, USA
       Created by: Mike C
      Record added: Feb 21, 2010
      Find A Grave Memorial# 48435998

    2. [S5258] Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Cleta Christine Leichner; obituary; 12 August 2023; Cleta Christine Leichner; online; 13 August 2023.

    3. [S2927] Find a Grave, 9 January 2017; Charles "Max" Leichner.
      Charles "Max" Leichner
      Birth: Sep. 8, 1926
      Mammoth Spring
      Fulton County
      Arkansas, USA
      Death: Apr. 14, 2013
      Fayetteville
      Washington County
      Arkansas, USA
      Charles "Max" Leichner, 86, of Fayetteville, passed away on April 14, 2013 at Willard Walker Hospice Home.
      He was born September 8, 1926 in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas to Conrad and Gladys Wahlquist Leichner.
      He was offered a basketball scholarship to the University of Arkansas, but chose to serve his country. He enlisted in the United States Army on his eighteenth birthday in 1944 and was stationed in northern Italy until he was honorably discharged in January of 1947.
      He married the love of his life, Cleta McChristian, on February 12, 1947. He attended Southern Baptist College, John Brown University and the University of Arkansas. He taught school in various locations in northwest Arkansas, including: Bohannan, Decatur, Wesley and Huntsville. He also coached basketball in Huntsville, but the focus of his career began in 1963 when he entered the insurance field. He spent 36 years, from 1963 to 1999, in the insurance industry. He belonged to the Church of Christ.
      His most precious loves in life were his wife and family. He was always there to care for and support each family member. He had a gift of making each member feel special. He also had an avid love for the Arkansas Razorback athletic programs. He closely followed Hog football, basketball, and baseball.
      He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Bill Leichner, of Denver, CO. and Clyde Gahlon Leichner, of Arcadia, LA.
      He is survived by his wife, Cleta Leichner; two sons, Max Leichner, Jr. and wife Angie of Fayetteville and Steve Leichner of Fayetteville; two daughters, Anna Morter and husband Dr. Tom Morter of Rogers and Lori Leichner and husband Rick Russell of Springdale; one brother, Henry Leichner of Wichita, KS; eight grandchildren, John Leichner, of West Fork, Staci Sims of Rogers, Chuck Leichner of Springdale, Justin Dysart of Fayetteville, Ryan Leichner of West Fork, Dr. Sarah Rowden of Rogers, Dr. Russell Morter of Rogers and Chase Leichner of Fayetteville; and six great grandchildren, Braxton Leichner, Mac Leichner, Garren Leichner, Morgan Freeman, Cade Leichner and Evelyn Rowden.
      Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Fairview Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, April 17, 2013.
      Pallbearers will be: John Leichner, Ryan Leichner, Chuck Leichner, Chase Leichner, Dr. Russell Morter, Braxton Leichner and Mac Leichner.
      Honorary pallbearers will be: Justin Dysart, Garren Leichner, Wayne Robbins, Doug Robbins, Dean Gilbert, Mark Leichner, Lance Leichner, Monte Leichner, Mark Maggard, Mike Maggard, Chad Maggard, Brad Robbins, Devin Sims and Dr. Josh Rowden.
       Family links: 
       Parents:
        Gladys Naomi Wahlquist Leichner (1902 - 1979)
        Sibling:
        Charles Leichner (1926 - 2013)
        Clyde Gahlon Leichner (1936 - 2002)*
       Burial:
      Fairview Memorial Gardens
      Fayetteville
      Washington County
      Arkansas, USA
       Created by: L Bruns
      Record added: Apr 15, 2013
      Find A Grave Memorial# 108570274