Leona Ree Abraham Stark

Leona Ree Abraham Stark, a resident of Richmond, KY passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on August 5, 2022. Leona was born on April 4, 1931, a resident of Toledo, Ohio to Noble and Bertha Coates. Leona was a graduate of Central Catholic High School class of 1949 and attended Eastern Kentucky University where she graduated Class of 1973 with her BA in Education. Leona continued her higher education at College of Mount Saint Joseph where she graduated Class of 1984 with a second BA in Theology. Leona’s love for learning was matched by her love to educate as she pursued a teaching assignment with the Campbell County School District as an Arts Instructor. Later, Leona would accept a position as Staff Assistant to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Cincinnati as a technical writer. Never one to remain idle, Leona organized and founded the first Sunday School program at St. Clement Catholic Church in 1967, enrolling more than 231 children into the program in its inaugural year while assembling a staff of mothers and high school teens as volunteer instructors of Catholic Curriculum. Leona’s Sunday School program became the model for all Sunday School programs in the Catholic Diocese of Toledo, Ohio. Leona was a prolific artist and writer, finding her passion in working alongside her second husband, Charles Stark as writer and photographer for the Catholic Messenger newspaper for the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky; the pair also created, showcased, and sold practical woodworkings. A staunch and devoted advocate of health and wellness, Leona represented the Shaklee Company in sales for more than 30 years. Later, Leona became a proud member of the Ladies Auxiliary Group of Saint Peter Claver, volunteering her time to charitable causes through the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky. Leona is described by many as generous beyond measure, a servant to the Lord as well as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and above all, friend. Leona is preceded in death by her parents Noble and Bertha Coates, her first husband Frank Abraham, her second husband Charles Stark, and her brother Thomas Coates. Leona is survived by her loving son Frank L. Abraham, Sr. (Mary Lillian) of Richmond, KY, grandchildren Frank Abraham, Jr. (Dawn), Christina Abraham (Kim), Valerie Abraham (Adam Noble) and great grandchildren Riley Abraham, Lizzie Abraham, Emma Foley, and Ethan Noble, and many loving nieces and nephews. Services to be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 10:00 am at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 410 Jefferson Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508. Burial to follow at Mother of God Cemetery, 3125 Madison Ave, Latonia, KY 41015. Care Cremation and Funeral Service is honored to be entrusted with final care.