Stella Leis Obituary
Published by Legacy Remembers on Sep. 4, 2017.
On June 24, 1922, in Phoenix, Arizona, Stella May Doss was born to Gladys Ethyl and Robert Alexander Doss. The extended family then moved to San Bernardino, California, where Stella grew up with an older brother Bob and a younger sister Virginia. When she was 16, Stella went to work to help support her family. With a good entrepreneurial instinct, she developed her first business.
Stella had noticed that baked goods were available only at bakery shops, never in grocery stores in San Bernardino. That added a layer of difficulty for women with little children or people suffering the physical ailments of the elderly. She asked the grocery store management if she could sell baked goods in the store, and they agreed. Next, she spoke with the owner of the local bakery shop, agreeing to buy day-old bread, pies, cakes, and other products that she later sold at a steep discount from normal prices. Grocery store shoppers were happy to take care of as much food shopping in one place as possible. She set up her display on a table at the front of the grocery store. It was an immediate success.
One day Army Air Corps Sergeant Raymond Leis stopped to buy cookies to take back to March Air Base, where he was assigned. He bought the cookies, but he came back for the girl.
They planned to marry in late December 1941; however, on December 7, 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service surprised the United States with an attack on the US Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. March Army Air Force base rescinded all leaves immediately, which could have derailed Stella and Ray's wedding plans; however, Raymond obtained a 12-hour leave for December 21. Twelve hours was barely enough time to drive to Las Vegas and back to San Bernardino, but they got married and then got Raymond back to March Air Base with only a little time to spare. The car her brother drove at breakneck speeds died right in front of the base.
Two years later, Stella surprised her husband and all family members—especially herself—when she delivered twins: Pamela Kaye (10:20 a.m.) and Richard Eric (10:25 a.m.) The doctor, not suspecting anything but an overly large baby, had Stella on a very restricted diet. Stella continued to gain weight at a rate her doctor considered dangerous. He scheduled a caesarian section. Ray got leave to be with her during the birth.
The next day, Ray returned to training to fly bombers. In a few months, he left the United States for the European Theater in World War II. Stella's mother, aunts, and sister helped Stella care for her twins.
When Ray returned safely from the war, he left military life.
In 1952, President Harry Truman recalled World War II pilots to help fight the Korean War. They were given a choice to return to military life or not. Stella and Ray decided they would like to return to life in the Air Force.
Over the next 24-years Stella packed, unpacked, made friends, kept in touch with friends, and enjoyed the countries and states where they lived, including San Antonio at Randolph Air Base; at Andersen AFB on Guam; Travis AFB in Fairfield, Calif; Taranto, Italy; Phalsbourg, France; and McChord AFB, Washington State. At each base, she was active with the Wives' Club and the Red Cross.
During their time at Travis AFB Stella found a new passion: She worked tirelessly to collect money to build Air Force Village, originally for Air Force Officers' widows, who had fallen on hard times.
After Ray retired from the Air Force in 1966, they moved to Los Gatos, California, where Stella opened an antique store and a frame store. She was part owner of an art gallery and taught painting.
Stella and Ray bought a Piper Cherokee Warrior. On several flights, Ray developed serious health problems. Stella learned to land the plane, and then decided to learn to fly their plane on her own. True to her personality, she eventually passed her instructor pilot exam.
As her passion for flying continued, Stella joined the women pilots' organization, the Ninety-Nines, and whole-heartedly participated in their various activities, including air races across the country. She later joined the Civil Air Patrol to aid in search and rescue missions for downed planes.
Stella was a force of nature no matter what she was doing and will be sorely missed.