Leora M. Houk, 90 years, formerly of Clinton passed away September 16,2026, at Meadow View Health and Rehab, Harrisonville MO. Funeral services will be held at 3:00PM Thursday September 24th, 2026 at Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton, Missouri. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 2:00PM-3:00PM.  Interment will follow at Vansant Road Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri.  Family suggest memorial contributions be made to Vansant Road Cemetery and may be left in care of the funeral home.  Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com .

Leora Mae Houk came into this world September 17th,1935, near Ballard Missouri and departed it from Harrisonville Missouri, September 16th, 2026, at 90 years and 364 days.  Her 91st birthday was celebrated at a heavenly reunion.  She was brought into life by her mother Opal Cordell Alexander and presented to Father Leo Alexander, a farm worker, and her two-year-old brother Dwight.  Leo built a small two room house (off-the-grid, as was the norm) for his growing family at the edge of the Ballard area farm where he was born.  In this home she spent her early years.  Leora walked with her family to Walnut Grove Church every Sunday if the creek wasn't too high.  When she started school at Ballard, she was able to ride what passed for a bus, unless the roads were icy in which case she walked the 2 miles to school.

During WWII, Leo moved his family to Clinton for work and Leora finished second grade at Hamilton School, later attending Jefferson Park School, Franklin School and CHS, Class of 1953.  Leora kept herself busy while her parents were at work by playing with kids around the neighborhood, in the park, and spent much of her teens at the roller rink. She also spent a lot of time chasing after her brother Dwight when his proclivity for teasing with her self-confessed short temper.  She also once pushed him into a well.

Leora's first job was handing out frosty malts at Hartley's on the square.  She never learned the secret recipe.  She also waitressed a bit and was part of the first crew at Rival's Clinton plant.

Leora got her first kiss from Lewis Houk, after dating off and on for a couple of years.  They married shortly after she graduated in 1953 and were together until his death in 2005.  Four children were born to this union.

Starting shortly after her move to Clinton, she faithfully attended services at the Assembly of God Church for over 80 years and made a lasting commitment to Christ at age 18.  She worked with children of every age in every capacity for nearly 60 years; teaching Sunday school, children's church, VBS, Missionettes, even leading the youth group for a while when still in her teens and no willing adult was available. She worked many years at the church-based Kiddie Korner Daycare. After Kiddie Korner closed, she offered daycare in her home for many years to several children.  Particularly dear to her were Megan and Mandy Dennis, Mackemzie and Hunter Cloud, and the late Whitney Plumlee.

She was predeceased by parents, half-brother Floyd Wilber Alexander, brother Dwight, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, her husband Lewis, daughter Donna Lynn, and grandson Isreal Houk, as well as many friends- Daisy Artist, Violet Coffey and Sue Felkner to name a few.

Leora is survived by her sons Cecil (Sonja) of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Wesley (Adela) of Sacramento, California and Michael of Springfield, Missouri.  Her grandchildren Levi Houk of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Kenny Houk (Misty) of Bolivar, Missouri and his stepchildren Jacob Hoover, Dillion Todd and Cheyenne Todd: Kayli Houk of Kansas City, Missouri, Bonnie (Jeremy) Mitchell and daughters Desta, Jaeli and Camara of Harrisonville, Missouri, and Vanessa (Mike) Elhenicky and children Victor, Charlotte, Miranda, Leora, Allison, Thomas, Judith, Enid and Danica of Lenoir, North Carolina.  And her great-great grandson Ryker Reynolds of Harrisonville, Missouri.

Also surviving are sister-in-law Dorothy Alexander, and reunion cousins Virginia Huenefeldt, Orvine Cook and Duane Cordell.

As dementia brought confusion and delusion into her last few years, Leora was blessed to retain her true personality and sense of humor.  Her final year at home was only made possible and enjoyable by the care given by Darla Brzuchalski, who was more than a home health aide.  She was a true friend to Leora, and the family will always be thankful for her.

Thanks also to the staff of Meadow View Health and Rehab in Harrisonville and Ascend Hospice for making Leora's final months comfortable.

Leora was a volunteer with Tri-Lakes Hospice for several years, 2013 Volunteer of the Year in fact.  Support your local Hospice organization.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, in Clinton, Missouri.