Lea "Noni" Popham

Eunice Lea “Noni” Conley Popham passed into the loving arms of the Lord on November 3, 2025 in Floresville, Texas at the age of 93. She was born on October 13, 1932, in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, to Ida May Langton and Grover Conley. She grew up in Louisiana and graduated from Hornbeck High School in 1950. After graduation, she went to work for Southern Bell Telephone Company in Leesville, Louisiana, where she met her future husband, Clarence David Popham, who was stationed nearby at Fort Polk.

Lea and Clarence were married on August 24, 1952, and moved to Texas to live and work on his family’s dairy farm in the Fairview Community. There they raised two daughters, Connie Jo and Peggy Lea. Lea continued to make her home in Fairview throughout her life.

Lea was active in her community and politics. She served as Judge of Elections in Fairview for forty years and was a proud Democratic officer. She was also a longtime member of the Home Demonstration Club and the Brush Country Red Hats. For a time, she even wrote a weekly column for the Chronicle Journal newspaper.

She loved people and enjoyed being involved in all aspects of community life—including once appearing in movies filmed in Floresville. She was outgoing, beautiful, and loved to dress up, always with her makeup just right.

Lea was also a collector, treasuring beautiful things and saying, “If you have three of the same, you have a collection!” Her home was like a museum—warm, full of character, and memories. A lifelong reader, she often finished an entire book in a single day. As she once said, “When I got too old at 91 to drive, I just stayed home and read books—western, history, mystery—you name it, I read it!”

Lea was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Clarence, in December 2008, and her daughter, Connie Jo, in September 2021.

She is survived by her devoted daughter, Peggy Lea Popham Blair; grandchildren Catherine Jolene, Candis Lea (Bret), Cheyanne, John David (Candis Marie), and Travis Ryan; and her great-grandchildren, William David, Ciara Sage, Afton Silver Nicole, Miranda Jade, Tanner Ace, Bryer Case, Cameron Diane, Landon Carter, Hunter David, Dakota Marie, and Ryanne Jean.

A visitation will be held at 10:00 am on November 14, 2025 at Franklin Funeral Home and a Graveside service will be held at 11:30 am at the Fairview Cemetery. There will be a potluck gathering at the family home after the graveside service.

What can be said about this woman? She was the velvet glove and sometimes the iron fist. She was the glue that held the family together. She was “Noni.”