Leona Vant

Leona Patricia Vant, 71 of Bremerton, Washington, died with her husband Vergil and daughter Wendy in a train accident in Bourbonnais, Illinois on March 15, 1999.  She was born in Wenatchee, Washington March 17, 1927 to Sydney and Adah B. (Unger) Pygott.  The family moved to Bremerton in 1941 and Leona graduated from Bremerton High School in 1945.  She married Vergil A. Vant February 26, 1944 in Bremerton.Mrs. Vant worked briefly as a Sheetmetal Helper at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard after World War II, and more recently for 8 years at Merit Mart in East Bremerton until 1975.  She was a member of Merry Menders, a volunteer sewing group mending clothes for nursing home patients.Surviving are son John Vant (Pam) of Port Orchard; daughters Valerie Hinkle (Ed) of Burlington, Robbyn Handel (Larry) of Bremerton, Virginia Vant of Bremerton, Melissa Flowers (Pat) of St. Marys, Georgia, Rebecca Phillips (Bill) of Gig Harbor; sisters Hazel Jordan and Virginia Hartley both of Wenatchee; 18 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by brothers Stan and Syd.Memorial Service Saturday, March 27, 1999 at 10:30am at St. Gabriels Catholic Church in Port Orchard.  Memorial donations to Red Cross or any Hospice organization.