Leona Marie Joesph Martin Kaufman Was born the war torn times of World War ||. While her father Joe Gorege Joesph was beach heading on Normandy On June 6, 1944 "landing in a hail of bulllets" in his own words and he miraculously survived without a scratch! Dorthy Marie Massy Joesph her mother pregnant with her was working the assembly lines putting together aircraft parts together to help support her family and the war effort. On November 16, 1944 Leona was born in Turlock, California after father came home from the war they traveled looking for work and a place to set down roots and make a home. They finally settled in Reddding, California where leona went to school and married her high school sweetheart Calvin Lee Martin after graduation.
They had thier first child Sonya Marie Martin Markson now age 43 in 1964. Tragically while Leona was three months pregnant with their second daugter Carrie Lee Martin Cornet now age 40 and three monthis to his twenty fifith birthday Calvin died from a rare disease suddenly. Leona struggled for a time but eventually met and married Mike Kaufman. The couple traveled all over the country for his job with Grumman's Aerospace Company, during that time they had three children together, Michael James Kaufman now age 37, Charline Leona Kaufman Davis now age 33, and Leona Nicole Kaufman Bickerstaff now age 31. After the marriage ended Leona returned to California to be close to her family and spent the next twenty years working as a professional Bartender in her early forties Leona became ill and was diagnosed with C.O.P.D due to her own smoking habits and the second hand smoke of her profession. Leona became disabled and had to have in home care and oxygen thereafter. Leona lived with her eldest daughter for the next fifiteeen years of her life the last ten in Alturas California, where her daughter Sonya a Home Health Care provider took care of her personally and was privileged to do so.
Leona's youngest duaghters and son live in Reno, Nevada and visited as often as possible her second daughter Carrie live's in Ventura, California she was not able to see her as much she wanted to, but did her best to go see her as often as possible and will always remember those times.
Leona loved Gardening and became devoted to preserving our heritage seeds, she loved the earth, canning, animal's, crochet, reading and researching our family genealogy, which I and My Sisters intend to continue to do in her honor. Leona was a practicing Wiccan and had a warm generous soul who always accepted a person for who they were regardless of their past or where they may have come from, she would willingly lend a hand or an ear to someone in need.
Leona is survived by her brother Dan Joseph of Redding, California; seven grandson: Michael Leroy Cornet age 21, Calvin Lee Cornet age 19, Joseph Pierre Cornet age 13, Jacob Allen Davis age 12, Forest Anthony Davis age 4, Nicholas Amadeus Bickerstaff age 5, Eric Lee Bickerstaff age 3. and her granddaughters; Hearther Elizabeth Marie Markson age 17, Kiva Rose Kaufman age 12, and many nieces and nephews.
We will all miss her dreadfully, but we know she would want us to go on with life and enjoy each other. She raised her children to value family and the earth. As a family we are close and come togther in times of need we will try to impart the values she taught us to our children.
Leona died quietly in her sleep she did not suffer and while she did not leave monetary wealth or an abundance of possessions a far greater legacy was left to us all " A Legacy of Love".
Life Story of Leona Marie Kaufman (November 16, 1944 - October 20, 2007),
In loving memories of my mommy. Blessed be, Sonya Marie Markson