AUBURN – Cleo P. Cortes, 70, of Auburn died on Feb. 16 at the Hospice House.

She was born on Jan. 13, 1936, in Auburn, the daughter of Charles and Edith (Hanscom) Leavitt. She attended Edward Little High School.

She worked for many years in the local shoe industry, retiring from Billings Shoe. She also worked for the Renaissance School as a foster grandparent. She enjoyed crocheting, making puzzles and was a cat lover.

She is survived a son, Stephen Cortes of Delaware; daughters, Kathy Travers of Madera, Calif., and Tina Thayer of Mateca, Calif.; stepdaughter, Jeannie Cortes; brothers, Richard Leavitt of Auburn and Gard Leavitt of Auburn; sisters, G. Joan Gagne of Lisbon, June Miles of Portland and Dolly Eastman of Auburn; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and pet companion, Boo Kitty.

She was predeceased by a brother, Roland “Bob” Leavitt.