This memory is 6 years late as I just discovered this obituary.  My condolences go out to the Leonard family.  As a child, ages 5 to about 12, I spent many hours, you could almost say days, at the Leonard's house. When there Mrs Leonard was so good to me.  She made me feel like almost one of the family.  She (Mr Leonard too) will always have a special place in my heart.

  Joey Gillis

I used to work with Jean years ago at Baldwin-Lively Piano in Houston. On a whim I googled her only to discover she had passed. She was a genuine Bon Vivant, great lady, and good friend and My God! Fun to be with!!  The world was a better place when she was here and a sadder place upon losing her. My love and best wishes to her family.
Gerald  "Gerry"  Stripp

Stories from Sibling, together & individually:
Stories
•And to be part of such a beautiful family;
•Christmas parties, sing a longs, Hurricane parties, homemade pizza, fudge, family birthday parties;
•Seamstress  we all had coordinated Easter and Christmas dresses every year;
•Walking on the beach looking for treasures;
•After teaching music, in her 60's and 70's she sold Pianos. Won trips to the Caribbean several times, expense paid trips nationally and to Germany, many awards and grand events! She said, she sold so many because she listened to what the people really wanted and then tried to meet that need. Customers trusted her so much.  One of our favorite stories is when the customer had thoroughbred horses and mom told him which piano was a thoroughbred piano. He bought it right then!
•Mom always said she had eyes in the back of her head.  Years later, we learned her friends, other Moms in the neighborhood and school, were her extra eyes. No wonder we didn't get away with much.
•Patricia - Watermelon.  At beach house, mom came to see Patricia. At this time they were doing the healthy lifestyle. Fit for life .. they juiced a whole watermelon  Can't believe we ate the whole thing;
•Michelle  Grandma bought her for Christmas the rabbit fur coat she dearly wanted;
•Laura  When John and I first started dating, he had hair to his waist. About 6 months later, he cut it to shoulder length. We went to Ann's house and Jean came up to me, held both my hands and said I don't know what you did, but Thank YOU! I never told John that I did not like it so long.
•Laura  two words to describe Jean  Eternal Optimist
•Karen  remember going to play tennis in the cool of the evening in Corpus. We loved to play together.
•Karen  Remember coming home from school and she often had cookies just coming out of the oven. She taught me to cook before I was 10.  That is when I told her we didn't need a babysitter anymore and she let me do it. Oh Lordy! 5 Siblingsdo we have stories to tell
•Sean  Loved the sunrise walks with Grandma at Sargent. If a grandchild got up really early, she would take you out for pancakes.
•Chris  I'm thinking of the day Grandma & I went to the beach for two weeks.  We worked out at the beach in the mornings.  We also went out to eat on the scooter.  Sometimes we out ran the dogs.  That is when Grandma got Misty.  And Grandma helped me pay for Shaolinkungfoo.  And I was able to live in Houston for over a year and avoid adult day care.
•Melody  One of my special memories with Grandma is Thanksgiving.  She would always come stay with us, and I remember being so impressed with how early she got up, ready, and in such a good mood in the morning.  What I looked forward to the most every Thanksgiving was making the stuffing with her.  As I got older, she let me help more and more with making her special stuffing that the whole family really enjoys.  Everytime I smell sage it makes me think of Grandma.
•Ann  I remember Dad coming home from his first hospitalization. Both Mom & Dad were so worried about the other. Dad walked in with his walker and Mom stood up with her oxygen on and they had great big smiles to see each other. They hugged so tight. Mom had been afraid he wasn't going to come home. Now they are together again.

Father Ray's Sharing about Jean: What  she was like; favorite memories; her special interests; the things about Jean that everyone should know:
Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Mother in Law, Friend
•Jean deeply loves God, her Catholic Faith and living life fully as God has called us to do.
•Jean is the mother of 10 children, 26 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She deeply loves each of them and their spouses. She counted on the help of the guardian angels to help raise her kids. 
•Loved people  left an impression on every one she met. She had unconditional Love for each person and their individual uniqueness.  Everyone was ALWAYS welcome and there was ALWAYS room for one more. She always was accepting of everyone, ever so non-judgmental and always there when needed the most. Jean loved life, was young at heart and had boundless energy. She lived with great joy and positivity. Her motto was if something was not fun, she would make it fun. She is described as the eternal optimist. Even hurricanes were fun as we gathered in the hallway with our blankets and sang fun songs and played tambourines. We later learned she did this so we would not be afraid during the storm.
•She handled adversity with strength and grace and sense of humor.
•Love of Dad  As a young girl, while taking music lessons, she met the man she later married, the absolute love of her life. The deep love they shared was evident their entire lives.  
•Love of Music - Throughout her life, there was always music. She became an accomplished musician, played piano and organ at her local parish and cathedral for many years.  She also played the cornet and classical guitar and taught piano to many people. 
•Jean loved the beach!  It was her happy place a place to restore her spirit and a place to have great fun jumping in the waves, sliding down the sand dunes and making sand castles. In later years, she and dad bought the beach house at Sergeant. There are many stories from Sergeant long walks with mom at the beach looking for treasures, making sandcastles, riding the waves.  And if you were the first grandchild who woke up really early, she would take you out for pancakes.
•Role model of Healthy Living  Jean included exercise into her early days such as:  walking, golf and tennis.  Started kayaking in her 60s and swimming competitively at 70 years of age. She competed in Sr. Olympics, breaking national records at 72 years. When she no longer swam, she graciously gave her medals to her children and grandchildren to let them know they can accomplish anything.

Songs Mom taught us at the beach, on car rides and when she lived with us the past 6 years -  YEA!!!
•The cutest boy, sippin soda from a straw  
• Show me the way to go home
•Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue
•Have you ever fished on a hot summer day
•You can't ride my little red wagon
•She will be coming around the mountain
•O Happy Day   
•Take Me Out to the Ballgame
•In your Easter Bonnet

Jean's Love Legacy
Her Catholic Faith and living it fully as God has called us to do.
•Unconditional Love for each person and their individual uniqueness.  
•Loves Life, full of joy and positivity (big loving family, beach, parties.
•Love of Music  church organ, piano lessons, sing alongs, trumpet, scholarship to Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, how she met Daddy
•Role model of Healthy Living Mom went for fast walks whenever she could when she was raising her children. Started rowing and swimming competitively at 70 years of age. Sr. Olympics, breaking national records at 72 years.

So, so sorry about your Mom's passing. Please extend my deepest condolences to all of your family. Love Julie Meyer Elnitski & Family

I want to express my deepest sympathy from me and my family to you and yours upon Jean's passing. She must have been an amazing mother along with Jack to have raised such a caring family. I am sure she will be terribly missed. Love Jean Meyer

She was a wonderful person, Glad we had the pleasure of knowing her. So sorry for your loss. Love Rachel & Art Michel

Jeanisms (Mom)
1.I like to have fun & if it's not fun, I will make it fun
2.If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all
3.Peel your potatoes and one for the pot
4.Tilt  when something goes wrong
5.Sometimes you just have to have a Hershey bar
6.Rise & Shine  Time to Get Up  
7.Everyone is welcome, no strangers here
8.Worry is a waste of time

I am so sorry for your loss. I will miss Aunt Jean, she had a huge heart, great laugh, and lived her life to the fullest. My family and boys were so blessed to have her in our lives. Sending all of my dear cousins love and prayers.

When they say it takes a village, they aren't kidding, Jean and Jack treated all of their children's friends as if they were their own and we all loved them for that!

My thoughts are with the family in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort during these difficult days. Ps. 9:9,10

Talked to mom last night and she told me that she stepped wrong somehow and pulled a ligament in her knee out of place. She wind up going to the ER to get it looked at because it started swelling really big and she had pain. She has a sort of sleeve on now limiting her movement. Now that the swelling is down, She has to see a ligament specialist this week so they can determine what more is needed.  I'm going to work remote today so I can sit with her at home and call and see if she can get in to the specialist today. I'll update everyone when I get over there and read the paperwork and talk further with mom. She said she was feeling much better bc the swelling had went down significantly.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Roberta Jean Jean Meyer Leonard

16 août 1926 – 2 juillet 2016

Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home and Memorial Park

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