Lela E. Embree

Lela E. Embree 99, passed away on June 5, 2023 at Good Samaritan Society in Grand Island, with her family by her side.

Her services will be 11:00 AM on June 12, 2023, at First Faith United Methodist Church, 4190 West Capital Ave. in Grand Island, NE. Burial of ashes will follow in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 AM until the start of the services.

She was born to Rufus and Josephine (Connely) Myers on April 22, 1924. She grew up in the Custer County area and graduated from Broken Bow High School.

She married Leonard E. Embree on December 25, 1943, in Tacoma, Washington while he was stationed there in the Army. They later made their home in Merna, Broken Bow, and then in Grand Island, Nebraska.

They owned and operated the Grand Island Amusement business in Grand Island for many years and had many friends. Lela later worked at the Conoco Cafe as a waitress, served breakfast and lunches at Stolley Park and Dodge Schools, and then worked in the mail department at Five Points Bank for several years.

She was a member of the First Faith United Methodist Church, the Truth Rebekah Lodge #132 and a member of the Does Drove # 147 and held offices in both.

Lela is survived by 2 daughters, Trish “Patty” (Ken) Ross and Diana (Tom) Kester. She has 10 grandchildren, Matt (Angie) Ross, Angie (Jeff) Roby, Andrea (Shawn) Roth, Jeremy (Cori) Ross, Jody (Brock) Herley, Koryn (Ryan) Koinzan, Ryan (Amber) Ross, Erin (Matt) Willnerd, Emily (Nick) Hughes, and Lesley (Casey) Flenniken. Lela has 31 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren. She is survived by her sister, Pearl Myers-Bence and a sister-law Donna (Richard) Embree, and nieces and nephews.

She was proceeded in death by parents, her husband, Leonard E. Embree, sisters Helen (Kenneth) Burch, Micki (Warren) Sommer, Wilma (Duane) Smith, and brothers Lloyd Myers and Claris (Luda) Myers.