Leota (Mueri) Breard
Leota Jean Mueri was born Jan. 8, 1936, prematurely, and during a snowstorm in Tilden, Nebraska. Her first crib was a box by the wood stove. Her parents were Herman J. Mueri and Lucille May (Priestley) Mueri (both deceased).
Lee died suddenly and peacefully in the ER of Capital Medical Center in Olympia, Washington Dec. 16, 2021. She had lived several years with cancer, remaining active, and even able to go with family members to New Mexico for a week in September.
Until her death she had lived at The Bay House on Eld Inlet in Thurston County with Joe LaBreck. They had united in 2007 after both their spouses had died.
In her childhood she lived in several places until her family settled in Aberdeen, Washington when she was in seventh grade. Her mother had married Robert Jolly (deceased). She graduated from Weatherwax High School of Aberdeen in 1954.
She married Ken Snider in 1955, and they lived in Central Park for many years. They had three children: Colleen Snider of Olympia, Christie Anderson of Hoquiam whose husband Bryan is deceased, and Vickie Hill (husband Dell) in Neah Bay.
In 1981 she married Dan Breard. They lived in Olympia until his death in 2003. His son Dan (wife Linda) and daughter Leeann Flynn became part of her family, just as Joe’s son Jim LaBreck and daughter Jennifer Christensen did later.
Leota was very energetic and always had a job. During high school she was a movie usher, drug store worker and hospital kitchen helper.
When her children were in school, she worked at Central Park Market, A.J. West School and Cox Cablevision. In Olympia she worked for 19 years for the State, retiring in 2003.
Vickie says her mom was a wonderful grandmother. Lee got the kids into reading. She would take Blaire to the bookstore where they had cocoa and read together. Mom was always having family gatherings. She would take family on trips, even Disneyland where she only liked to sit by the pool. Mom was a classy lady and tried to teach us girls that, too. Mom was a caring woman and was always there for us.
Christie calls Leota a strong woman. “She’s my rock, as she was always my rock. She gave me strength when my husband Bryan died. She loved artwork, shopping and going to lunch. She was an amazing mother. She was always there for me …maybe it was not what I wanted to hear, but she told it how it was.”
Colleen says she loved planning and cooking holiday dinners with her grandson Kyle. While Lee was ill Kyle cooked many dinners for her and Joe. She became a true WSU fan when Colleen went to school there, but still went to many Husky games with Joe. During the summer she would sit on her beautiful deck overlooking the Bay and have many life conversations with her family and friends.
This is from Lee’s sister Betty. “Leota and I go way back in time. I loved her for her sense of humor and spirit. Lots of memories … She loved her flowers and vegetables. She liked her sports with Joe. She loved being with her family and being with Betty and Glen and our family on our boat for many adventures. We will all miss her.”
Leota liked clothes, cooking, having dinner parties, boating, dancing, sports, poodles, knitting, gardening, fresh flowers in the house and shopping. “I won’t know what I’m looking for until I see it.”
She enjoyed traveling. She and Joe made many road trips — across Canada to Maine and back home; to Alaska and back; throughout the western U.S. by several routes. She enjoyed many stays at Seaside, Oregon, and all of the months they spent in Hawaii.
She is survived by her sister Betty (Mueri) Aurdahl (husband Glen), sister Kathy (Mueri) Poirer, brother Robert Mueri, and brother Michael Jolly.
Lee considered all of the following her grandchildren: Allison (Hill) McVey (husband Billy), Ashley (Hill) Nguyen, Blake Hill, Blaire Hill, Tiffany (Hinton) Shoemake, Nicole Hinton, Geoffrey Anderson (wife Karen), Kelce (Anderson) Boggs (husband Johnny), Kyle Snider, Danny Breard, Cole Breard, E.J. Flynn, Patrick Flynn, Jamie LaBreck, Jordan Christensen and Trace Christensen. There are 10 great-grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of her life announced later. Donations to any cancer organization would be appreciated.
Arrangements are by Harrison Family Mortuary in Aberdeen.
