Arlene Bright Leikam, 91, Hays, died Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at the Hays Medical Center.

She was born February 26, 1925 in rural Graham County the daughter of Charles W. and Ella (Veverka) Smith. She graduated from Palco High School and received her teaching degree from Fort Hays State University. On January 5, 1946 she married Billy T. Bright in Russell, Kansas. He died December 28, 1977. She later married Elmer L. Leikam on February 14, 1983 in Hays. He died July 10, 2005. She was a school teacher in Graham County for many years, worked in a fabric store, and worked at Gullivers Book Store in Hays for many years until her retirement. She was a member of North Oak Community Church in Hays. She loved to read, tend to her rose garden, and go for rides in the car. She was an excellent cook, rarely needing to measure or use a recipe. She was a gifted seamstress, sewing clothes for her sisters and herself, and she made dolls and doll clothes.

Survivors include a son, Terry T. Bright of Hays, a sister Alice Bowans of Palco, and numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, two brothers, William George Smith and Charles W. “Johnny” Smith, Jr., and two sisters, Edith Dillon and Veda M. Miller.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the North Oak Community Church, 3000 Oak Street in Hays. Burial will be in the Plainville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Friday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, and from 9:00 am until service time on Saturday at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.