Minnie Jo McLeran

     Minnie Jo Colman McLeran passed away peacefully at the Wichita  Falls  Hospice House facility on Monday, November 6, 2023 in Wichita Falls, Texas   Minnie was 81 years old.  

     A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Owens and Brumley Funeral Home in Burkburnett with Rev. Joe Coombes officiating.

     Minnie was the oldest child of Roy and Ann Colman of Cody.  She graduated from Cody High School in 1961, then attended Northwest College in Powell for 2 years where she met her future husband Tom McLeran from Powell. They were married in the Cody Presbyterian Church in December 1964. To this union two boys, Roy and Brian were born.  

     During the family’s early life Tom was a Sargent in the United States Air Force so they traveled and lived on Air Force bases where Tom was stationed. When the Vietnam War broke out Tom was stationed to work in a medical hospital in the Philippines.  A year later Minnie and the boys joined him there.  During their stay, the Vietnam War was fully engaged, so there was no such thing as traveling around the area but they truly enjoyed their time and had many wonderful experiences while living in the Philippines.  After the war they returned stateside to Travis Air Force Base in California and years later transferred to Wichita Falls, Texas where they eventually retired and still reside today.   

       In 1979 the family fell victims to one of the biggest tornadoes to touch down in Wichita Falls. The entire family had just returned home from their days’ activities when a tornado warning occurred. The family all sheltered from the tornado in a small coat closet with their 2 small dogs and a neighbor child.  There, in the closet and in fear for their lives, they listened to and waited out the tornado.  When the sounds of a train rolling across their floors and the almighty wind stopped; Tom opened and peeked out of the closet door.  Their view was “nothing”!  No home, no neighborhood, no vehicles no trees and no people.  With the Lord’s Blessing they were all alive! ! The only thing standing was their home’s coat closet, their shelter and a plant on a living room coffee table.  It was through this scare and not being able to find Minnie and her family for 6 days that Minnie’s mother, Ann Colman succumbed to her cancer.   With help from their Farmer’s Insurance and their Agent they were able to build a lovely home in a “different part” of Wichita Falls. 

        For years Minnie was an enthusiastic Christian Boy Scout Leader.  She worked with young boys and was most proud to help each of “her boys” attain their Eagle Scout badge.  

      She also started and operated Dog Kuntry Grooming where she became a professional Dog groomer. A particular hobby was “Showing” her dogs in Community and neighboring Dog Shows.  A dog lover for life she raised and showed standard size poodles (some nearly as big as her 4 ft 8 in. frame) and later smaller miniature pincers.  For many years she was part of the AKC Dog Association in Wichita Falls; she came to be known as the “Dog Lady”. 

      She was loved and respected by neighborhood friends, her Does friends of the Elks Club, her First Baptist Church family and younger sister, RoyAnn Bormuth of Cody, Wyoming. 

     She was preceded in death by both of her parents from Cody, Tom’s parents in Powell and her brother-in-law Bill Bormuth of Cody, a brother-in-law in Texas plus,  one sister-in-law in Arkansas.                                                                                                                                                                  

         She is survived by her husband Tom McLeran of Wichita Falls, son Roy in Oklahoma, son Brian, his wife Lisa and their family also in Wichita Falls, a sister, RoyAnn Bormuth in Cody, WY, and several brothers-in-law along with 7 grandchildren, several great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  

         Those wishing make make a donation to the charity of their choice.