Longtime Casper resident, Leota Marie Harkins(84), entered the kingdom of God on July 2, 2016. Leota passed peacefully, surrounded by three generations of her loving family. Leota was born October 25, 1931, in Greybull, Wyoming, to Robert and Delberta Lynam. Raised and educated in Greybull with her four brothers, Leota loved family, faith, and her favorite flower, the rose. Leota worked for Specialized Telephone Service, retired from the Natrona County Assessors Office, and then enjoyed time as a home supervisor for NOWCAP services. She also enjoyed house and pet sitting.

In 1953, Leota met and married Charles D Harkins. From that union, four sons were born: Terry (Renee), Blake, Mark (Barb), and Mike (Judy). The time she spent with her four brothers in Greybull prepared her well for the task of raising four boys and a husband. A devoted mother, Leota developed a love for sports as she watched her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren compete at all levels. She especially enjoyed listening to her only granddaughter sing. While her cheers were inspirational, her true strength would shine when she picked up a child, dusted them off with a hug and that special smile, and showed them true unconditional love. Leota’s invincible smile, which she shared until her passing, was always a comforting rainbow to her family, in times of stormy weather.

Leota was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brothers Joe, Bill, Tom, and Diz, and an unborn great grandchild, whom she is hugging and smiling at now in Heaven. She is survived by her four sons and their wives, eight grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren.

Services will be held at 1pm on Thursday, July 7, 2016, in the chapel at Highland Park Community Church (5725 Highland Dr, Casper, WY). In lieu of donations, the family requests that you donate a smile and a hug to someone in need of God’s unconditional love.