Leola Margaret McConnell

Leola McConnell, died Thursday afternoon, March 19, 2009, in Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho, after a two-and-a-half month battle with respiratory and heart issues that developed following a fall on New Year’s Eve. She was 84 years old in August, and had been in good health until the fall that fractured her pelvis. Leola Margaret was born to Fred and Marvel (Rooker) Quickert on August 22, 1924, in San Jose, California. She was the oldest of three children. She grew up in the Santa Clara Valley helping on the family farm to raise chickens and prunes with her sister Marion and her brother Marvin. She was winning competitions in kite building in Santa Clara County while her husband-to-be was winning cake baking competitions at the Bonner County Fair (beating his own mom). She was musically gifted; playing the violin, fiddle, accordion, and French horn. She wanted to be a music teacher but was not admitted into the program due to a heart murmur. Leola graduated from Oak High School in Morgan Hill in 1942 as valedictorian and worked in a Standard Oil research laboratory during World War II. Leola regretted breaking many young men’s hearts before marrying Cecil Charles McConnell, on June 25, 1949. Twenty years of her married life were spent as a wife of a USAF Strategic Air Command radar navigator when Cec was recalled to service in 1951. Family ties were very important, she always made sure that family and extended family stayed close with visits and communication even when we were scattered around the world. She was preceded in death by her parents, and the untimely death of her brother, Dr. Marvin Quickert, a renowned eye surgeon, whom she missed dreadfully. Leola was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Lewiston, Idaho. She is survived by her husband Cec McConnell of Sagle, Idaho; her sister, Marion June Fellows of Morgan Hill, Calif; and sister-in-law, Geneva Quickert Baker of Saratoga, Calif; Leola’s four children and spouses, Laura McConnell, Mo and Les Campbell, Marvelee and Jerry Higgins, and Charlie and Trish McConnell; son-in-law, Llew Soong; her 10 grandchildren, Nathan Campbell (Stacie), Eric Campbell (Micah), Shannon Pendleton (Forrest), Chas McConnell-Soong (Lindsey), Chelsea Hood (Mike), Brian McConnell-Higgins, Kele McConnell-Soong, Sean McConnell-Higgins, Scott McConnell and Josi McConnell- Soong; and two great-grandchildren, Judah Pendleton, and Maylee McConnell-Soong will miss her quick smile and witty comebacks. She will also be missed by her uncle, Jack Rooker; aunt, Genyss Vaughan; cousin, Marilyn Johnson; as well as many other cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Most of the family was able to come and visit her and cheer her during her long stay in the hospital. Friends and family are invited to a wake that will be held in her honor at 139 McConnell Road, Sagle, Idaho, on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 1-6 pm.