Sarah D. Gillespie Tent No. 7
Biographies
Leah Way - Real Daughter
Frances Leah Presto Way, of 1420 D, Lincoln, passed away Jan. 7, 1992. She was born Jan. 18, 1912 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the only daughter of Edgar D. and Jessie Delia Smith Presto.
She was the youngest "Real Daughter" member of Sarah D. Gillespie Tent #7 and the youngest first child of a Union Veteran.
Her father, Edgar D. Presto, belonged to Co. E, 36th Wisc. Inf. He was wounded at Cold Harbor, VA, one of the Civil War's bloodiest battles. After the war he became the first postmaster of the Nebraska Legislature. He was nearly 70 years old when Leah was born, and she was only 4 when he died. But he instilled in her a love of patriotism and pride that was reflected in her bearing, and showed when she performed the ritualistic work of this order.
She was the widow of Harold Way who was the son of Bernice L. Way. Bernice Way was also a member of Tent #7, the Department President in 1946-1947, and National President 1956-1957. Leah was a member of Tent #7 for 56 years. She was Department President 1953-54. She was National Patriotic Instructor 1989-1990 at the 100th National Convention.
Leah served on almost every committee especially the Charter Committee. For many years she worked tirelessly to keep the organization's name before the House and Senate, constantly prodding the membership to write letters until the Federal Congressional Charter was finally received, Dec. 9, 1985. For her efforts she received the National DUV's Kady Brownell Award.
For some 30 years she was a volunteer at the Lincoln VA Medical Center, acquiring over 4000 hours. The National VAVS Representative appointed her to Honorary Representative, the first in the Daughters volunteer system. This gave her participation privileges on the state and national levels on the Advisory Committee.
She was secretary for 25 years at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church where she was a member. She was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star #148. In the 1980s she served on the Nebraska Commission on the Status of Women.
Burial was at the Aurora Cemetery.
-- rewritten from Feb.1992 National General Orders