Catherine Leona Corley Wetsel

Catherine Leona Corley Wetsel of Beaumont, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2011. She was born on January 7, 1916 in the Ingleside community in Texas, to Emory and Ann Corley, the oldest child of three. She has been a resident of Beaumont, Texas for 8 years, having moved to the area in 2003 to be closer to her daughter, Suzanne Wetsel Glenn. Mrs. Wetsel had been a resident of Wichita Falls, Texas from the time of her marriage in 1939, to 1966, when she moved to Abilene, Texas with her husband, C.S. Wetsel as he became a partner in the Corley-Wetsel Truck Company. She lived in Abilene, Texas until her recent move to Beaumont, Texas. Mrs. Wetsel attended and graduated from Weatherford Junior College and North Texas State University. She was certified as an educator, and taught many years of her life; being teacher and basketball coach in Bellevue, Texas, Director of kindergarten at Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, teaching 3rd grade at Ben Milam Elementary in Wichita Falls for many years, and ending her teaching career in Abilene, Texas, teaching Headstart. Always active in civic areas, Mrs. Wetsel was part of the Opti-Mrs. Organization in Wichita Falls and her church, First United Methodist Church. In Abilene, Texas, she was very active in the Abilene Woman's Club, investment clubs, on the board of the Abilene Country Club, and an integral member and supporter of her church in Abilene; St. Paul United Methodist Church. Leona Wetsel was a gracious lady who was a special friend to all who knew her. She had a love of travel and enjoyed cruising with friends and family for many years. She and her grandchildren enjoyed many trips together. She was preceded in death by her parents, Emory and Ann Corley, sister, Helen Chapin, husband C.S. Wetsel and daughter, Helen Jane Todd. She is survived by her brother, Durwood Corley of Abilene, Texas and his wife Sue, daughter, Suzanne W. Glenn and her husband, J.D. Glenn of Beaumont, Texas, son-in-law Ron Todd, of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, grandchildren, Brian Glenn and his wife Kerry of Beaumont, Texas, Karen Glenn of Lumberton, Texas, Amy Nelson and her husband, Glen, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Cathy Gaffney and her husband Mark Gaffney of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, David Todd of Baltimore, Maryland. Mrs. Wetsel is also survived by her great grandchildren, Bryce, Lexie and Kaden Glenn of Beaumont, Texas, Ashley Uhr of Alamogordo, New Mexico, and Jace Gaffney of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, as well as many close nephews and nieces. The family would like to express sincere gratitude and love to Mrs. Wetsel's very special care-givers; Sarah Keller, Bernadine Stevenson, Jocelyn Ramsey, and Theresa Lewis. Services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home Chapel, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. in Abilene with Rev. Bill Libby officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday prior to the service. Pallbearers will be Brian Glenn, David Todd, Victor Corley, Val Corley, Glen Nelson, Mark Gaffney, Conner Davis, Cade Corley and Christopher Corley. Memorials may be made to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 525 Beech St., Abilene, TX 79601.