Mrs. Lorene Marie Payer Leder

Lorene Marie Payer Leder died January 14, 2022, at Crestpark in DeWitt. She was born November 1, 1922, to William and Ethel Hancock Payer at Casscoe. She was descended from the Payer, Kornbaum, Hancock and Healy pioneer families of Arkansas and Prairie Counties. She was a member of the Louisiana Bayou Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, through the Healy line. Lorene was a 4-H club leader and was active in community activities. She began her teaching career in the DeWitt School system and graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College, now the University of Central Arkansas. In addition to teaching, she was a social worker in Arkansas County between teaching elementary and middle school. After retiring from teaching she went into business with her sister-in-law, Alice Inman, running The Mother Hen, a maternity and children's clothing store in Stuttgart. Lorene was active in professional organizations, having served in elected offices of Mu Chapter Kappa Kappa Iota. She also served as state president and was a life member of Kappa Kappa Iota. She helped organize the Arkansas Chapter of the National Education Association Retired Teachers and was elected its first president. She was active in the Arkansas County Democratic Party and served as treasurer for many years. As part of the Arkansas Travelers, she worked on both Clinton campaigns and volunteered in the mail room in Washington D.C. Among her fondest memories were attending the Democratic National Convention in New York City in 1992 and both Clinton inaugurations. A life long Lutheran, Lorene was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church in DeWitt and was the first woman to serve as a trustee. She actively served her church in many capacities until her health declined. She enjoyed traveling and attended many Kappa Kappa Iota conventions with her daughter, as well as trips to Europe. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Leder was proceeded in death by her husband, Everette and her son, SMS(RET) Lanny Leder. Also, siblings Frank and Mary Frances, who died as children, and Payer sisters; Ruby Fortune, Ruth McGaughey, Bernice Allen, and Edna Wright as well as brothers Ernest, Leon, and William Dean. She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Sandra J. Leder of Lake Charles, Louisiana; her daughter-in-law, Jeannie Borland Leder, of Sherwood; granddaughter, Julie Leder Wynegar (Travis) and Julie's children, Lily and Cullen Andrus of Greenbrier; Roger Leder (Sharla) and their daughters Taylor and Grace, of Meridian, Mississippi; and her sister, Dorothy Wilks of Brinkley, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family is most appreciative of the excellent care that she received at Crestpark in the last year of her life as her health declined. Honoring her request, memorials may be sent to St. Luke Lutheran Church, 903 East Second Street in DeWitt. Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. Monday. January 24 at Cedarcrest Memorial Gardens in DeWitt by Essex Funeral Home.

Mrs. Lorene Marie Payer Leder

November 1, 1922 - January 14, 2022