Rose Marie Leland

Rose Marie Van Ness Leland was born on May 12, 1927 in Big Creek, Fort Bend County, Texas. She passed away in her sleep on May 6, 2014 in San Antonio, Texas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Harrison Leland, her parents, Oliver and Thelma Van Ness, her brother, 2 sisters, and 1 grandson. She is survived by son, David H. Leland and wife, Sheryl, daughter, Carol Leland Cox and husband, Dan, son, Dr. John E. Leland and wife, Robin, 7 randchildren, 7 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.

She met her husband, Harrison, just after WWII. Their parents’ homes shared a back hurricane fence so they were neighbors. Harrison’s story goes that Rose Marie fell in love with him by just viewing his Navy photo at her future in-law’s house. They were married on September 5, 1948. Rose Marie had a good job and as the primary breadwinner, she continued to work as he finished his degree from University of Houston College of Engineering. After graduation, she became a full-time homemaker and mother. They had three children together and raised a family of four. They started their married life in Baytown and moved to Houston in early 1952. They made their home in Houston except for 2 years spent in Corpus Christi.

Rose Marie was an avid volunteer. From 1952-1963, it was at M E Foster Place Methodist Church and M E Foster elementary school. She assisted whenever possible with Harrison’s various volunteer coach/manager positions in youth football and baseball.

She became very active with the United Methodist Church’s Society of St Stephen’s program and eventually was the Southwest District Chairman of this organization. She was an important volunteer in the Houston Food Bank and the establishment of Food Pantries in several Houston churches. She and Harrison sponsored many Laotian families that became refuges after the Vietnam War. She discovered this very important Christian outreach during home visits representing the Society of St. Stephen’s Program through her church, Gethsemane United Methodist Church (currently a St. Luke’s UMC campus) in SW Houston.

She loved sewing and handicrafts. She made each of her children and grandchildren at least one quilt. She made herself and children a stained glass lamp and numerous stained glass windows. Her handiwork adorned her walls at home with needlepoint and cross stitch. Numerous throws and bedspreads attest to her skills at crocheting. She loved to work in the yard and their home in Houston always had a manicured yard with blooming azaleas in the spring, roses in the summer, and bromeliads in the backyard.

They both loved to saltwater fish and learned of many good fishing spots in the Rockport/ Fulton Beach area as he surveyed many Aransas Bay wells. They bought a vacation home in Rockport/Lamar in 1992 and lived alternately in their 2 homes.

After Harrison’s death in 1997, Rose Marie decided to live full time in Rockport/Lamar. She continued to fish, but usually out the back door in the canal or off the pier and bridge at Goose Island State Park. She loved flower gardening and could tell you the name of nearly every flower around and how to care for it. She was very organized and

everything had its place. She was a marvelous cook and loved cooking for the family during holidays or weekends. She continued her volunteering in Rockport area and was a teacher’s assistant at the Fulton Beach elementary school. She also provided transportation when a neighbor was no longer able to drive to choir practice.

Education was very important to both Rose Marie and Harrison. They supported and encouraged their 3 children’s advanced education. Rose Marie continued to encourage her grandchildren and great grandchildren to attend the university of their choice. Many grandchildren as well as 2 great grandchildren have earned college degrees. Some have pursued advanced degrees in medicine and education. While Rose Marie may not have had the easiest of childhoods, she always made lemonade every time life provided her with lemons. As a loving couple, Rose Marie and Harrison are again reeling in a stringer full of specks and redfish.

All memorial donations can be directed to Christian Community Service Center (CCSC), P.O. Box 27927, Houston, TX 77227-7924, (713) 961-3993, email address [email protected], and http://www.ccschouston.org or your charity of choice.