Leota Elnora Gregory Reagan was born December 24th, 1921 in Saco, Mo to Oliver Lee Gregory and Nora Ann Pippin Gregory, both are deceased. Leota has two sisters, Floy Juanita (Ted) Williams, Fredericktown and Nancy Carol (Jay) Whitener of Honsa, California. Leota married Orion Junior Reagan August 15th, 1948 who is deceased, in Fredericktown and was married for 56 years. Leota went to college at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and has a degree in English, Art, and Journalism.
Leota's first teaching job was at a country school at Minimum 18 miles below Mill Creek she taught there 2 years, she then taught at Williamsville for 3 years, she came back home to Fredericktown to teach for 40 years and retired from Fredericktown High School in 1984. Leota was a well loved teacher, she was Senior Sponsor and Yearbook Sponsor and was voted teacher of the year. Leota taught Journalism and Art for Fredericktown High School. She taught GED classes in the evenings and taught English classes at Mineral Area College, she was Secretary of Mineral Area College Endowment Foundation Board. One of Leota's big accomplishments was leading a fund raising drive that netted 70,000 toward a new building for the Fredericktown Senior Nutrition Center. She also volunteered with the center and served as the President of the Madison County Council on Aging. Leota was corresponding Secretary of the 9th District Federation of Women's Club and the State Division Chairwoman for the Missouri Federation of Women's Club. She was a member of the Madison County Democrat Club, Card Club, Friday Club, Retired Teachers and the Beta Sigma Pi Sorority.
Leota was Alderwoman for 3 years and the first woman Mayor of Fredericktown for 8 years and President of the Board of Alderman. She was very active in the support of the history of the area, serving with the Madison County Historical Society and Co-editor of a book on the history of Madison County. She has received recognition and many honors for her community work, most notably a citation from American Institute for Foreign Study for tour director for local students traveling and studying in foreign countries.
Leota was the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Woman of the Year in 1980 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 1989. She has been recognized for her teaching skills by and Outstanding Teacher of America award.
Leota has been many fascinating places her first was to Cuba when she was 25 years old and she went by herself. Since then she has been to England, Holland, Greece, Belgium, Paris, Italy, Spain, Hawaii, and the Mediterranean Islands including the Holy Land.
Leota was a member of the Methodist Church. She has two children, Nyla Gay (Ross) Doil, Ballwin, Missouri, Missouri and Shelley Ann (Roger) Kemp, Desoto, Missouri. Three grandchildren, Brandon Ryan Kemp, Amanda Nicole (Beau) Govereau, and Meghan Nicole Doil. She loved watching the St. Louis Cardinals and the Rams.
Leota often said that she was glad that at an early age she knew what she wanted to do in the future, glad she went to college and received a BS in Education degree, glad she became a teacher, glad she waited until she was 26 before she got married, glad she ran for Mayor of Fredericktown and won, glad she was a tour guide for International Exchange school and took five trips to Europe, glad that she never liked liquor or wanted to smoke, glad that she was President of Madison County Seniors and helped build a new 150,000 Senior Center. Leota said I look back on my life and give thanks for the wonderful life that I've had. I'm very fortunate to have had loving parents, a happy childhood, two special sisters, a very good husband, 2 beautiful daughters and 3 adorable grandchildren. I hope when I am gone people will remember me as a good person as well as, a knowledgeable and intelligent person who did what I could to leave my mark and to be remembered as a person who did what I could do to leave the world a better place. I've enjoyed teaching, my church and being a part of the political system. I have been blessed.

Visitation; 5:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at the Follis & Sons Funeral Home

Funeral Service; 11:00 A.M. Thursday, October 30, 2014 at the Follis & Sons Chapel

Officiating; Pastor Lora Cunningham

Interment; Marcus Memorial Park