A Life Shaped by Two Families and Two Eras Some ancestors live one life. Sarah Edith Leakey lived two. Born August 26, 1868, in Indiana, Sarah was the daughter of Isaac R. R. Leakey and Catherine Carroll, both from long‑established Midwestern families. She grew up in a world still recovering from the Civil War, where family, faith, and hard work defined daily life. Her story would eventually stretch across two marriages, two sets of children, and two states — ultimately becoming a foundational thread in the Stringer family line. First Chapter: The Bradfords At just 15 years old, Sarah married William Henry Bradford on November 25, 1883, in Indiana. Together they built a young family that included: • John Isaac Bradford (1889–1955) • George Bradford (1892–1922) These were years of constant work and constant change. Like many families of the era, the Bradfords moved in search of opportunity, eventually joining the wave of settlers heading toward Missouri. But Sarah’s first chapter ended too soon. William Bradford died young, leaving Sarah a widow with children still depending on her. Second Chapter: Joining the Burris Family Life changed again on August 9, 1895, when Sarah married Clay Dean Burris in Barry County, Missouri. Clay was the son of Asahel Burris, a Civil War soldier to be featured in the June spotlight. This marriage blended two families and created a new generation of Burrises. Sarah and Clay’s children included: • Lula Lou Burris (1895–1975) • Anna Burris (1898–1965) — direct ancestor of the Stringer family • Maggie Mae Burris (1900–1939) • Eula Pearl Burris (1908–1984) • Alva Wayne Burris (1911–1976) Through Anna, Sarah becomes a great‑grandmother to the Stringer line — and a matriarch whose influence still echoes today. Life in the Ozarks After her second marriage, Sarah settled permanently in Barry County, Missouri, in the Seligman and Eagle Rock area. Her life spanned: • The end of the frontier era • The rise of railroads • Two World Wars • The Great Depression • The transformation of the Ozarks from isolated homesteads to connected communities Family stories describe her as steady, practical, and deeply devoted to her children — the kind of woman who held a household together through every hardship the early 20th century could deliver. Final Years and Legacy Sarah Edith (Leakey) Bradford Burris passed away on September 16, 1947, at age 79. She is buried in King Cemetery in Seligman, Missouri, surrounded by members of both the Bradford and Burris families — a quiet testament to the two chapters of her life. Her legacy lives on through her many descendants, especially through her daughter Anna Burris, whose marriage into the Stringer family continues Sarah’s story into the present day. Why We Honor Sarah This May Sarah’s life is a reminder that strength doesn’t always look like grand gestures. Sometimes it looks like: • Raising children through widowhood • Blending families with grace • Starting over in a new state • Building a home in the rugged Ozarks • Living with resilience through decades of change She is one of the women who shaped the foundation of the Stringer family — not through fame or fortune, but through perseverance, love, and the quiet courage of everyday life.