Janet Florence Leonard

Janet Florence Leonard was born on July 9, 1928 in Syracuse, New York, to Walter S. Zion & Florence Davis Zion. She was the younger sister of brother Herb, who grew up in Syracuse.In her high school years she helped her mother manage the home while her father was away at war. After high school she attended secretarial school and shortly after married Charles Ayre in 1950, they had a son and a daughter. She enjoyed going to the Zion family camp, in Cleveland, N.Y., for weekend getaways. She was a secretary at Lamson Corporation in Syracuse where she met her boss and soon-to-be future husband. In 1967, she married Victor Leonard and became a step-mother to his three sons. Together they had their youngest child, Susan. They were married for almost 48 years. Jan enjoyed many activities; she was never one to sit still for very long. She and her husband used to ‘cut-a-rug’ whenever possible, go to the Kentucky Derby each year when they lived in Louisville, KY and they both loved taking cruises (as they did quite often). She was always up for doing anything with her 2 girls; horse races, bowling, amusement parks, movies, playing pinochle and especially vacationing, Jan was a loving ‘mom’ to her multiple pets plus volunteering at Operation Kindness in Carrollton, she was also very good with the lost art of quilting, cross-stitch and making afghans, which are now enjoyed by her children. Jan could also be found reading one of her favorite books and/or floating in the pool. Jan’s favorite outings were shopping, shopping and shopping and going to Texas Ranger baseball games. On March 17, 2015, Janet Florence Leonard was called Home. She was greeted in Heaven by her parents, Walt & Florence Zion; her aunts & uncles, Jack & Clara Stinger, Vi Davis, and Arlene & Harold Becker. And later to follow was her husband, Victor Leonard, on March 31, 2015. Her life and legacy will continue to be remembered and honored by her children and step-children: William Ayre of Orlando, FL; Jayne Ayre of Orlando, FL; Susan Leonard Hand & her husband Chris of Carrollton, TX; Michael Leonard of Tulsa, OK; Paul Leonard of Ocala, FL; Bryan Leonard & his wife Patricia of Syracuse, NY; step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and close friends.