Leona Eggleston

Leona Eggleston Leona was born January 21, 1944 to Frank and Beulah Land, number eight of nine siblings, all of whom she loved and squabbled with. The child of itinerant laborers, she moved several times, beginning school in Adrian OR and graduating from Brookings Harbor High School in 1963. Due to her developmental disability, Leona was the only one still at home when her parents moved back to Junction City in the mid 1960s. Leona worked ten years for Goodwill Industries where she met Robert Eggleston. They married July 4, 1973. The Egglestons had a good life together. They moved several times and again settled in Junction City. Robert passed away in 2004. Leona adopted a kitten named Tamera and continued to live in her tiny apartment. Leona was an avid volunteer at Viking Sal Senior Center, became an active member of the Red Hat society and joined Women of The Moose, where she met her best friend, Linda and formed a lifelong bond. In 2008, due to increasing disability, Leona and Tamera moved into G and D adult foster home, where she met her "little buddy" Ben, and formed a lasting friendship. That friendship, household activities ? especially bowling, lunches with her beloved Linda and trips to the beach with her niece, also Leona, sustained her for the ten years she lived there. On November 29, 2017, Leona and Tamera moved in with the other Leona and family. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting afghans, household tasks and family outings. Leona loved going to lunches, dinners and movies with her sister-friend Linda. She also loved her caregiver Erica. They went shopping at Goodwill, bowled every Tuesday and enjoyed Pizza Thursdays with Erica's family. In August 2018, when Leona was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer, she chose to simply continue her life and usual activities for as long as possible. She did that with courage and humor. At 3am, November 18th, after visits with her brothers and Erica and a phone call from her beloved Linda, Leona left us quietly and with great dignity. Leona was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, two brothers, Jim and Tom and two sisters, Skip and Bessie. She leaves behind two brothers, Bill and Al, two sisters, Fran and Margaret, three generations of nieces and nephews, stepchildren and descendants, and a whole community of friends who loved her dearly. A Celebration of Leona's Life will be held 4:30 pm, Monday December 10th at Firs Bowl, 1950 River Rd, Eugene. Arrangements entrusted to Lane Memorial Funeral Home.