Leatrice Sue Roberts

Leatrice Sue Roberts (Schlosser) passed away on January 3, 2024, after battling Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, a rare blood cancer. She was born on November 9, 1933, to Clarence and Florence (England) Schlosser in Mason City, Iowa.

Lea was raised on a farm with her two brothers, Louis and Robert. After graduating high school, her adventurous spirit took her and her friend on a road trip across the United States, ultimately landing her in California. She became employed at Yosemite National Park. After a season in Yosemite, wanderlust took her to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Her future husband, Bob Roberts, wooed her back to Iowa. They traveled back to Los Angeles, California, where Bob would become employed with Continental Airlines, which allowed them to travel for several years. They settled down in El Segundo, California, raising their two children, Janene and Daniel, and made life-long friendships. Travel remained an important part of their family’s life, which allowed them to explore the Caribbean, Europe, and Hawaii. Lea and Bob would ultimately move to Ridgway, Colorado, spending 23 years building a tight-knit community of friends and family.

Lea and Bob shared 67 years of marriage. One of Lea’s favorite memories occurred when Bob was offered work abroad in England, Switzerland, Germany, and France where she enjoyed her role as “hostess with the mostest”. Her daily duty was shopping for the most desirable and native hors d’oeuvres in each country and having them ready by 5 o’clock for the crew. Of course, this was never a problem and a task she greatly enjoyed! One of Lea’s greatest accomplishments was traveling the world. She visited 5 of the 7 continents and would bring back treasures from her adventures. Once they were back stateside, family remained a priority. They often traveled between San Diego, CA and Gilbert, AZ, supporting their grandchildren in their activities. Lea enjoyed antiquing, skiing, snowmobiling, hosting game nights, dancing, drinks at the Grit, making her “blue ribbon” Kahlua, and fundraising for the Ouray County Rodeo Association with the Columbine Club. You could find them escaping the cold Colorado winters by going to their second home on the Colorado River, playing on their boat, and enjoying other water activities. 

Lea is survived by her daughter, Janene (David) Beard of Montrose, CO; son, Daniel (Nancy) Roberts of Gilbert, AZ; Grandchildren, Ashley (Christopher) Waite and children, Evan and Oliver, of Medina, OH; Jessica Larson and son, Zachary, of Montrose, CO; Andrew (Jessica) Beard and children, Layla and Wyatt, of Montrose, CO; Caston Roberts of Gilbert, AZ; Quade (Mallory) Roberts of Gilbert, AZ with a great-granddaughter on the way, Rosie Ray, and brother Robert Schlosser of Paso Robles, CA.

Lea is preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Florence (England) Schlosser; husband Robert W. Roberts, and brother Louis (Sue) Schlosser.

Lea and Bob’s cremains will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Waikiki Beach, Oahu, in a traditional Hawaiian celebration of life. A local Celebration of Life will occur later this year; details will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, MPN Foundation, which will help fund research for this rare blood cancer, by scanning the code or visiting https://www.mpnresearchfoundation.org/donate-to-mpn-research/