Loleta Carey

Loleta's Obituary

Loleta Esther Arlene (Bodfield) Carey, age 80, went to be with the Lord on April 1, 2025. Loleta was born Nov. 5, 1944, in San Francisco, California, to Floyd Loran Bodfield and Arlene LaDonna (Whitehead) Bodfield. She lived in the Roseburg area since she was a young girl until marrying Leroy Carey on May 30, 1986. Together, they moved to California for a few years before settling in Keizer, Oregon. Loleta waitressed at the Roseburg Tom Tom Restaurant for many years where she loved the work, her co-workers and her customers. After leaving Roseburg, she worked at other restaurants, was a realtor and an in-home caregiver.

Loleta expressed having had a happy childhood with many memories of fun times with her siblings and cousins. As a teenager and young woman, she loved dancing 60’s era dances and her love of dancing continued well into her life. Her children fondly remember dancing with her in the living room and listening to her sweet voice singing while driving. She enjoyed camping, spur of the moment trips to the coast and drives exploring the beautiful state of Oregon. She also liked to travel outside the state, having visited Pennsylvania and other states, Yellowstone Park and Japan. For the last few years, she attended the Winston Four Square Church and attended two bible study groups. She loved animals dearly, especially dogs, and they loved her. Most of all, she loved spending time with and visiting family. Family gatherings were her favorite. She was caring, compassionate and truly loved unconditionally. Her smile was beautiful and infectious, and she laughed with her whole being.

Loleta was preceded in death by both her parents, her siblings Loreta Sherwood, Floyd Bodfield and Roger Bodfield, and the father of her first four children, William David Ledbetter. She is survived by her husband Leroy Carey, the father of her youngest two children, Milton (Pat) Restoule, and her sister Lorraine (Ed) Crabtree. She is also survived by her six children, Karen (Steve) Bruggeman, David (Kay) Ledbetter, Gregory (Lilly) Ledbetter, Jeffrey (Cindy) Ledbetter, Michelle (Todd) Clinesmith and Bradley (Sarah) Restoule, her stepson Rod (Teresa) Carey, her 16 grandchildren, Christopher and Katrina Ledbetter, Jason and Justin Bruggeman, Bretton and Corina Ledbetter, Travis Ledbetter and Krysten (Ledbetter) Krueger, Samantha and Danielle Clinesmith and Liam, Paige, Lincoln and Eliana Restoule, Heather Walker and Shawn Bader. She also leaves 13 great-grandchildren.

There will be a viewing for family and friends from 10 a.m. until noon Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Taylor’s Family Mortuary. Loleta requested no service, instead we will hold a potluck style picnic for family and friends at noon Saturday, May 31, 2025, at River Forks Park, beside the upper park lot.