BIOGRAPHY

Leyda was born in Municipality of Louise, Manitoba, Canada, on 19 July 1903, to parents Albert William Littleton Soare (1868–1932) and Margaret Elizabeth Fyfe (1870–1968). She had at least four siblings: Edgar William Soare (1894–1981), Merle Elizabeth Stead (1895–2000), Aleira Victoria “Alma” Mitchell (1897–1989), and Jack Lyttleton Soare (1916–2011). She grew up in Saskatchewan.

In 1933, she moved to the United States. In the 1940s, she moved to Washington, D.C. after accepting a position as social director at the Wardman Park Hotel. There, she met prominent figures like Winston Churchill and Mamie Eisenhower and assisted Bess Truman in managing social functions at the White House. In 1952, she volunteered for Eisenhower’s presidential campaign, quickly advancing to assistant press secretary and speechwriter, becoming one of the few women on Eisenhower’s staff. Reflecting on this period, she described it as one of the most thrilling times of her life: “It was hard work and long hours, but it was fun,” she recalled, adding that she gained a deep understanding of American politics.

Leyda later worked on the campaigns of Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, finally retiring at the age of 87—only due to poor eyesight. Her memory stayed sharp well into her late 100s. Even at 110, she remained a proud and active member of the Republican National Committee (RNC). Shortly before her 110th birthday, she attended the RNC’s 50th Anniversary Medal of Honor ceremony. At the time, she resided at Sunrise Senior Living in Washington.

In 1950, she married Harold Junior Leyda (1908–1955). They were married for only five years, before her husband’s passing. Her older sister, Merle Elizabeth Stead, lived to be 104 years, 179 days old.

Lois Leyda passed away on 17 February 2014, at the age of 110 years, 213 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg and Stefan Maglov, and validated on 29 October 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* Lois Marie Soare Leyda – Find A Grave

* “Centenarians club growing fast” – The Beacon Newspapers, June 2011

* “Resident at Sunrise on Connecticut Avenue in D.C. Turns 110: Ms. Leyda’s Story” – Sunrise Senior Living, 30 July 2013

GALLERY