Leona G. Rea, Pymatuning Twp., passed away at 2:05 a.m. Friday (1-6-12) in UPMC Hospital, Greenville, after an extended illness. She was 89.

Mrs. Rea was born Feb. 23, 1922 in New Wilmington, PA a daughter of Clair and Marian Woods Heckathorn.

Following her graduation from New Wilmington High School in 1940, she worked at the Shenango China Co. in New Castle. At that time the company was making and decorating dishes for the US Army.

In 1942 she married Alfred King who was employed by the John McDowell Potato Farm in Jackson Center, PA. During potato harvesting time, Leona would pick 100 bushel a day. One day she picked 135 bushel and won the title of Potato Picking Queen of Mercer County. She and her husband built the Royal Motel in Hermitage, which they managed for five years. Leona was also a secretary for the former Sherm's Sporting Store in Greenville for five years.

Her husband Alfred passed away in 1971. She married Thomas Rea on Oct. 3, 1972 and he preceded her in death in 2009.

Leona was an accomplished seamstress and a member of the 4H sewing club in her youth. Her first project was sewing an apron which won 1st prize. She was employed as a professional seamstress in the suede and leather department at Imperial Dry Cleaners, Sharon, for 13 years. In 1975 she made her husband Tom a leisure suit which she entered in the State Grange sewing contest. The suit won a blue ribbon for Best of Show in the state of PA. Leona was an active member of Hickory United Methodist Church, Hermitage. She enjoyed her church friends and all those who attended the exercise classes at the YMCA in Hermitage. One of her favorite pastimes was making pies for her grandchildren and their families and her friends.

Surviving are: a son, Jerry King and his wife Betty, Phoenix, AZ; two daughters, Mary Ann Himes and her husband George, Sharon; and Nancy Rose, Boswell, PA; a sister, Ruth Hartman, Phoenix, AZ; a brother, Gene Heckathorn and his wife Jackie, Hanford, Calf.; two step-daughters, Kathy Shacklock and her husband Butch; and Melissa Nitch and her husband Bill, all Greenville; several grandchildren, great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Besides her two husbands, Leona was preceded in death by her parents; a step-son, Alan Rea; and a son-in-law, Ken Rose.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Hickory United Methodist Church, 240 N. Hermitage Rd., Hermitage, PA 16148.

Calling hours will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday (1-8-12) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Friends may email condolences by visiting www.McGonigleFuneralHomeandCrematory.com.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday (1-9-12) in the Hickory United Methodist Church, Hermitage, with the Rev. David Evans, pastor, officiating.

Interment: Crestview Memorial Park, Grove City, PA.