Leona P. “Lea” Farley, 98, of Davenport, formerly of Eldridge, passed away on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Ridgecrest Village, Davenport.
Visitation was from 12-1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, at Chambers Funeral Home, Eldridge. Graveside services were held Monday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. at Lanark Cemetery, Lanark, Ill.
Leona was born on March 30, 1925, on the family farm in rural Mt. Carrol, Ill., the daughter of Lewis and Lena (Walther) Beyer. Leona was passionate about education and learning. While in high school, she began her career in journalism with Mt. Carroll Mirror Democrat. She went on to a business college and then worked for The Quad-City Times. In 1947, she was united in marriage to John E. Farley. Throughout the course of their marriage, John’s profession took the family to St. Paul, Minn., and Milford, Ohio, before returning to the Davenport area in 1984. While in Ohio, Leona became the local newspaper editor, and personally wrote and published poems. The family ultimately settled in Eldridge. Leona loved her family fiercely and adored her lifelong friends she met throughout her life. Leona was an avid reader, talented calligrapher, and always on the go with various women’s clubs and community activities. In her earlier years, she was named in the book of “Who’s Who of American Women.” Her legacy to which she wishes to live on is her advice, “KEEP THE JOY.”
Those left to honor her memory are her son, John Farley Jr. of Reno, Nev.; granddaughters, Anna (Douglas) Thornley of Reno, and Casey Barrett of Columbus, Ohio; and five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Potter, Meredith, and Sarah Thornley, and Morgan Goldberg.
In addition to her parents and husband, Leona was preceded in death by her son, Michael Jay; and brothers, Floyd, Ernest, and Forrest Beyer.
Memorials in Leona’s honor may be directed to the American Cancer Society or to the American Diabetes Association.
Online condolences may be shared with Leona’s family at www.McGinnis-Chambers.com.
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