Lucille McCright Leischner
Lucille Mary (Weber)(McCright) Leischner was born on October 11, 1922 and went to her heavenly home on January 18, 2024 at age 101. She was surrounded by loving family members and caregivers at Morning Pointe in Hixson, Tennessee.
Lucille was born to Nicholus and Mary (Sanders) Weber in Butte, Nebraska. During World War II, she worked in the Grand Island Defense Plant as a Women’s Ordinance Worker, making ammunition shells to support the war effort.
Lucille married Lyle McCright in 1945 and had seven children. After Lyle’s death in 1963, Lucille married Kermit Leischner in 1972 and welcomed his children and their families into her life. Lucille lived most of her life in Parkston, South Dakota and moved to Tennessee in 2012.
Lucille’s career as a teacher spanned 41 years, from the age of 17 to 58. Lucille and Kermit later became owners of “Kerm’s Oil” and retired in 1990. They traveled the country for 8 years after retirement.
Lucille embraced the Chattanooga community upon her arrival in 2012. Her strong faith led her to become a member of Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church while living on Lookout Mountain, an active mass participant at Alexsian Village while a resident there, and later, St. Jude’s Catholic Church upon her move to Hixson in 2017. She put her faith into service by raising funds for families experiencing homelessness through her support of the Grateful Gobbler Walk and knotting blankets for patients of the Mary Ellen Locher Breast Center. Lucille was a lifelong teacher and learner, exemplifying practicality and resilience in overcoming challenges throughout her life. She was wise, loving, and a role model to all who knew her.
Lucille is survived by her children, Lynn (Barry) Burkhardt, Lakewood Village, Texas, Maureen (Joel) Weiss, Basehor, Kansas, Stan (Betsy) McCright, Hixson, Tennessee, Patricia (Mark) Stanforth, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Renee (Jeffrey) Pries, Rochester Hills, Michigan, Susan (Michael) Wudel, Naples, Florida, and Bernadine (Loyson) Weichmann, Phoenix, Arizona, step-daughter Becky (Larry) Stumph, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 33 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her husbands, Lyle and Kermit, step-son Darwin Leischner, great-granddaughter Hope McCoy, her parents, and siblings.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Jude’s Catholic Church, 930 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tennessee at 11:00 a.m. February 2, 2024. The family will receive guests at 10:30 a.m. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church prior to the mass. In May 2024, a celebration of life will be held in Parkston, South Dakota with interment at the Sacred Heart Catholic cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Lucille McCright-Leischner Scholarship Fund through the South Dakota Communities Foundation. This scholarship fund was created in honor of Lucille’s 95th birthday and supports future educators and vocational professionals graduating from Parkston High School. (https://www.sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving/s upport-an-existing-fund/lucille-mccright-leischner-scholarship-fund)
Visit the online obituary www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.
Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd C h a p e l .