Leona Francis Akers, 94, of Winslow, AR ended life’s journey peacefully in her sleep on the morning of February 13th, 2022 at Siloam Springs Rehab in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, after a sudden illness.

She was born on the family homestead in Winslow, AR on May 5th, 1927, daughter of the late Charles Russell and Lillian Ruby Courtney. She was preceded in death by her brothers Conrad Courtney, Charles Courtney, Carlton Courtney, Earl Courtney, sisters Shirley Pool, Norma Hill, Marilyn Lindsey, Charlene Lockett, daughters Brenda Weaver and Rita Hembra, her Son David Thurber, and her grandson Jeremy Shelley.

She is survived by her sisters Randolyn Kilpatrick, Jeannie Hodges, brother John Courtney, son Alan Thurber, grandchildren Jamie Hankins, Bethanie Wight, Rachel Steward, Rebecca Burton, Courtney Hembra, Michael Thurber, Caleb Hembra, Alexis, and numerous great-grandchildren.

Leona was the strongest, most unbreakable spirit you’ve ever met. Her life story is marked with extreme painful hardships, from childhood all the way through old-age. As a young child, a high fever completely destroyed her hearing in one ear and severely damaged the other. She had to endure not the death of one, but three of her children. Many parts of her story would break most people, much less, all of it. Through it all, though, she never lost her faith or her joy.

One thing you could count on when you saw Leona was a big smile and concern for how you’re doing. If you asked her about herself, everything was always “just fine”, even if it wasn’t. Apologies to Margaret Thatcher, but Leona Akers was the true “Iron Lady”, and what it truly means to be part of the greatest generation.

One thing that her extraordinary hardships in life could never drive out of her was the twinkle in her eye, like that of a playful child. She loved to talk about lying in the yard under the stars with her sisters and tickling each other’s feet. Through their long lives, she and her sisters still had great love for each other.

Even though you knew you were talking to someone with the wisdom that comes from years, you were also talking to someone who could still laugh, who could still see the wonder in the world, and loved watching a kitten play, or a great-grandchild learn to take her first steps.

Her indomitable spirit is proof that there is something after this life. A light as bright as hers can’t be snuffed out. This world is a little less bright now, but she will be part of making the next one that much more beautiful.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 AM on Monday, February 21, 2022 at First Baptist Church West Fork.

Interment was in Blackburn Cemetery in West Fork.