Loretta M. Gebhart, 58 of Pocahontas, IL, formerly of Troy, IL, born February 20, 1959 in Belleville, IL, passed away after a three year battle with cancer on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 in Collinsville, IL, with her family by her side.

Loretta was a graduate of Highland High School class of 1977. She worked at Highland Health Care for over 15 years, she was a hard worker and enjoyed the patients as much as they enjoyed her. Loretta enjoyed playing bingo, yard sales, flea markets, bus tours and the trips to Branson with her family. She was a bird watcher and would sit on her porch and watch them make nests and then had much pleasure in feeding them.

She was preceded in death by her father, Marcel L. Gebhart; and grandparents, William F. and Lena A. Hoffmann, and Charles and Medora Gebhart.

Surviving are her mother, Gertrude L. Gebhart of Collinsville, IL; children, Amy Ward of Pocahontas, IL, and Joseph Leach of Collinsville, IL; grandchildren, Crystal, Cassidy, Hailey, McKinley and Timothy; nephew, Chris; niece, Katelyn; former husband, Ralph Leach Jr.; brother, Michael (Debbie) Gebhart of Troy, IL; sister, Karen (Donnie) Gebhart of Pocahontas, IL; friend, Donald Petry of Beckemeyer, IL.

Memorials may be made to the family and will be received at the funeral home. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.Richesonfh.com

Friends may call 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, December 22, 2017 at Richeson Funeral Home, Troy, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Richeson Funeral Home, Troy, IL. With Fr. Paul Habing officiating. Interment will be in St. Jerome Catholic Cemetery, Troy, IL.

RICHESON FUNERAL HOME, Troy, IL