Zella Mae (Slater) Leaman

Zella Mae “Babe” Leaman, of Ashland, passed away on her 90th birthday on Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at The Good Shepherd Home in Ashland  after a period of declining health.

Zella was born Aug. 18, 1930 in Lodi to the late Carl Sr. and Dorothy (Parmalee) Slater and was a 1949 graduate of Creston High School.  On April 24, 1953 she married Harry Lester Leaman and he preceded her in death on July 8, 1989.  She and her husband had operated the Cleanville Laundromat in Ashland and later retired to Kissimmee, FL where she volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program.  After Harry’s death, she moved back to Creston and later to Ashland.  Zella enjoyed fishing, bowling, working puzzles, reading her Bible and listening to Gospel Music.

Surviving are her daughter and 3 sons, Catherine Anne (Doug) Eagle of Perrysville, OH,  Philip James (Karen) Leaman of Lexington, OH, Jon Christopher (Kathleen) Leaman of Ocoee, FL and David Matthew of Orlando, FL; 4 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild; a brother, Walter Lawrence (Kathleen) Slater of Creston, a sister, Alice Pamer of Stow; a sister-in-law, Ruth Slater of Rittman and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry, her parents, infant children, Harry Jr. and Susan, brothers, James (Betty) Slater, Carl Jr. (Norma) Slater and William Slater and brother-in-law, Norman Pamer.

Zella will be laid to rest at Maple Mound Cemetery in Creston with her husband Harry.  Services will be held Friday, August 28th at 11:00 a.m. at Murray Funeral Home in Creston.  Tributes may be shared at www.Murray-Funeral-Home.com    Memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice, 1171 E. Main St., Ashland, OH 44805 or to The Good Shepherd Home, 620 Center St., Ashland, OH 44805.