Leona Mary (Christie) Wesley, 79, of McAlester, passed away Monday, Feb. 20, at Carrus Specialty Hospital in Sherman, Texas.  Viewing will be Wednesday from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be Thursday, Feb. 23, at 10:00 a.m. at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home Chapel with Raymond Johnson officiating.  Burial will follow at Brushy Cemetery.  Pallbearers are David Robertson, Rob Robertson, Bubba Smith, Michael Robertson, Randy Wesley, and Jeremy Scott.  The honorary pallbearer is Neal Hawkins.

Leona Wesley was born on Feb. 12, 1944 in Haskell County, Okla. to Coleman George Christie and Ethel (Jackson) Christie.  She graduated from Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah.  She married Paul David Wesley on Oct. 16, 1964, and they were together 50 years, until his death.  Leona had worked at Elsing, Mfg., then Henson-Kickernick, and then worked as a teacher's aid at L'Overture school.

At a young age, Leona accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and was a member of the Only Way Baptist Church in Keota until she married Paul, when they joined the Brushy Baptist Church. She became very active in the church, serving as WMU President, Sunday School secretary, church pianist, and children's Sunday School teacher.  She enjoyed singing gospel songs and listening to gospel music, and loved playing her piano.  She always had her meditation book with her, with daily bible verses written in the book.  She also enjoyed going to the McAlester Choctaw Senior Citizens.

Leona is survived by her children, Anthony Wayne Wesley and fiancé Angelia Stell, Michelle Lynn Wesley Winlock, and Jeanelle Marie Wesley Collins and husband Corey; grandchildren, Miranda, Jandyn, Kristian and Joseph Winlock; Jordan Collins, Samantha Gaines, and Alec Collins; great grandchildren, Tohbi Winlock, Aiyana Sorrels, Conner Gaines, Aurora Gaines, Anthony D. Wesley, and Kirstean L. Wesley; nephews and nieces, including Bobbsey Robertson and Rebecca Hawkins.  She was preceded n death by her husband, Paul; her parents; 2 brothers, Vernon LeFlore Christie and David Van Christie, grandchildren, Tyler Collins, Alexis Marie Wesley, and Brianna Nicole Wesley; grandmother, Mary Hancock LeFlore, and an aunt, Lorena Willis.