Lela Theora (Spoor) Koger

Lela Theora (Spoor) Koger, 88, El Dorado Springs, passed away at Community Springs Healthcare Facility Friday, Jan 19, 2024. She was born on March 3, 1935, in Collins—the fourth of eight children born to Russell and Goldia (Baumgarden) Spoor.

Lela and her family moved to El Dorado Springs, where she attended the seventh grade at the Clintonville School. She later attended and graduated from El Dorado Springs High School. Lela met her future husband during high school. After Frank’s graduation, he spent one term in the U.S. Army; Lela stayed in El Dorado Springs to finish school and worked in a grocery store. On Sept. 11, 1954, Frank and Lela were united in marriage. Two sons were born to this union, Tony Ray and Rocky Lynn.

Lela was saved and baptized at an early age and was active in her church until her health started failing. She loved her Lord and Savior through his words. Lela found comfort and peace during her last years. She felt that the Bible touches the heart, orders the mind and refreshes the soul.

Lela loved to cook and enjoyed eating what she cooked. Her family loved her homemade noodles, which became a permanent request at all family gatherings. She enjoyed making and decorating a birthday cake for each one of her grandchildren when they were little. Lela’s hobbies were reading (especially her Bible), working crossword puzzles, writing short stories for great-grandchildren and gardening. She was always thankful each fall when she finished canning and freezing her garden vegetables, carefully praising the Lord for his provision.

Lela loved her family and enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they came for a visit.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Frank; parents, Russell and Goldia; four sisters, Goldis Reathla, Waverly Yvonne, Wilma Jean, Margie Lou; and one brother, Russell Spoor.

Lela survived by two sons, Tony Koger and wife, Becky, and Rocky Koger and wife, Faye, both of El Dorado Springs; five grandchildren, Brett Koger and wife, Ashley – Alabaster, Al, Tanya Ward and husband, Earl – Owasso, OK, Jason Koger – El Dorado Springs, Kristen Casey and husband, Scott – El Dorado Springs, Tyler Koger and wife, Jessica – Wentzville; 12 great-grandchildren, Carson, Chole and Ella Kate Koger, Cash and Case Ward, Abigail, Isabelle and Amelia Casey, and Titus, Delia, Elias, Hazel; one sister, Linda, one brother, Hersel and numerous in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home. There will be a visitation prior to the service, starting at 10 a.m. Her final resting place will be El Dorado Springs City Cemetery.