Doris Leach Leonard

Doris was born in Gainesville, Texas to William and Marjorie Leach. She was the oldest of two daughters and enjoyed the companionship of her younger sister Sharon Castle growing up. She resided in Gainesville, Texas until her family moved to Illinois where she attended high school and college and later met the man she would marry.

On July 15, 1950, Doris married James H. Leonard III. They moved to Washington D.C. where James was stationed while serving in the United States Navy. There they had their first child, James H. Leonard IV. They would later move to Waukegan, Illinois and had two more sons, Dan William Leonard and Scott Wayne Leonard. Doris adored her sons and enjoyed the challenge of raising three active and inquisitive boys. She often told stories about how her older sons loved teasing their little brother, Scott. Scott describes it more as torture, but she always assured Scott that his older brothers really did love him.

Doris received her degree in education. She started her teaching career in Illinois, teaching multiple grade levels in one classroom. In later years, she became a teacher aide in a Special Education classroom at Landrum Junior High in the Spring Branch Independent School District.

Doris was a faithful servant of God. She attended church at Bear Creek United Methodist Church on a regular basis and enjoyed the fellowship of her church family. In recent years, she was unable to drive to church, but still read her bible daily, beginning and ending her day reading God’s Word.

Doris was an avid gardener. Getting her hands dirty in the garden was a passion for her and she loved sharing her plants with her family and friends. She loved to show off her garden to her guests and we all were amazed at how she could take our dead or barely living plants and revive them to beautiful, healthy plants again. She often spoke about her time as a member of her community garden club and the projects they completed together. She truly did have a green thumb!

Doris also loved to take daily walks. She made so many friends just walking through her neighborhood. Her welcoming smile was a magnet to those she encountered on her strolls and before long, the stranger became a friend to share stories and pictures of her grandkids with.

When she wasn’t being physically active, Doris enjoyed reading, often making trips to the neighborhood library or trading books with her daughter-in-law, Susan. She also enjoyed painting and made it her mission to paint with watercolors all of the birthday and anniversary cards she sent to her children and grandchildren. She continued this tradition until the arthritis in her hands made it impossible for her to do so any longer. We all treasure our hand-painted, hand-written, priceless, personalized cards!

Throughout the spring and summer months, and sometimes into the fall, Doris swam at her neighborhood pool. She enjoyed hosting her annual Fourth of July Pool Party with her family, serving pizza and watermelon as a special treat for her grandkids. Many wonderful family memories were made at her patio home on Meadows Way.

Ironically, two floods would make it necessary for her to leave her patio home and move to an independent living community. While changes were never easy for Doris, she championed through the challenge and in no time made new friends. A subsequent fall while taking one of her daily walks brought on a set of health hurdles that Doris was just not able to overcome. However, she remained steadfast in her faith, asking for her bible in the hospital, and never losing her sense of humor, cracking jokes even when she was at her weakest.

Doris is preceded in death by her mother, Marjorie Leach, her father, William Leach, her sister, Sharon Castle, her daughter-in-law, Sharon Leonard, her grandson, James H. Leonard V (Jamie), and the father of her children, James H. Leonard III.

She is survived by her son, James H. Leonard IV, his wife, Susan Leonard, and their daughter Sara Leonard and wife Lori Cortez Leonard ; her son, Dan William Leonard and his children, Megan Leonard Holland and husband Chris, Ben Leonard and wife Deann, Jason Leonard and wife, Holly and Kasey Sharp and husband Jeff; son, Scott Wayne Leonard and his wife, Olga Leonard and their children, Josh Leonard and Kim Diaz and husband Gabe. Additionally, Doris is survived by her niece, Marjorie Castle, her husband Ray Taras, and daughter Gabby and son, Chris ; her great grandchildren, Jamie Leonard and Reese Brush, Liam and Conner Holland, Evelyn and Cal Leonard, Autumn Sharp, and two more that we are expecting very soon.

Doris leaves an amazing legacy and countless memories for her family and friends to treasure.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Doris Leonard Memorial Fund. This fund will be used to share her love of reading through the purchase of library books for Olga Leonard Elementary in Katy I.S.D.. Checks should be made out to Doris Leonard Memorial Fund. Your donation can be mailed to Olga Leonard at 1007 Garden Canyon Ct., Katy, Texas 77450.