(From Parker Mortuary)Florence Faye (Good) Leonard, known affectionately as "Flo" to her friends and "Mema" to her family, was born April 3, 1940, in Carlisle, Iowa to her father, Webb J. Good and her mother, Alberta Jesse (Ayers) Good. At a young age Flo moved to Lamar, MO along with her sisters Dorothy Marshall Roberts and Betty Leitheiser. She knew farm life as a child and was within walking distance of her one room schoolhouse.
She later married William (Bill) Fry as two love struck teens. They moved to Kansas City where Bill worked for General Motors and Florence joined the workforce for the first time as a grocery cashier. A position she continued at Consumers after moving to Joplin, MO in 1966 when she later married Harold Leonard who preceded her in death in 2007. She was very much loved by her church family at First Community Church.
Her friendships were many and of all walks of life. Her late life sweetheart was Bill Harding, who loved her deeply. It was expressed from their beginnings as friends at church through her last days in the sweet, tender way he helped her, conversed with her, and encouraged her.
Florence was a tough lady, a fighter, having survived breast cancer, not once but twice!
She was also a woman of immense creativity and warmth. Whether she was designing floral arrangements, sewing or cooking. Flo loved flowers in her yard but not necessarily gardening, she would often stick artificial flower bouquets in her flower beds. Yes, family teased her about it but also loved it as a unique fun-loving trait.
She enjoyed hosting a house full of people, and she did it all with that signature flair. She was the heart of every gathering, and her bright and colorful legacy lives on in the handmade treasures she created and the precious memories she leaves with those who loved her. Flo was a woman who lived life in full color, defined by a cheerful and spunky spirit that stayed with her until the very end.
She had a large family, with two of her own daughters, Pamala Allen of Dallas, and Sherri (Kenny) Brinkoetter of Carl Junction. Three Stepchildren Pam Brady, Susan (Timothy) Sestak, & Steve Leonard. Three loved grandchildren: Amber (Brian) Mason of Argyle TX, Philip Allen of Dallas TX, and Krystal (Grant) Lewis of Seneca MO. Five step grandchildren: Brett (Monica) Brady, Kimberly Ames, Joshua & Zachary Sestack, and James Leonard. Four great grandchildren: Zane & Benjamin Scaggs, Jaret Mason and Raylee Lewis. Five step great grandchildren, and even one great, great step grandchild. In addition, she was blessed with 9 nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.
Florence was a tough lady, a fighter, having survived breast cancer, not once but twice!
She was also a woman of immense creativity and warmth. Whether she was designing floral arrangements, sewing or cooking. Flo loved flowers in her yard but not necessarily gardening, she would often stick artificial flower bouquets in her flower beds. Yes, family teased her about it but also loved it as a unique fun-loving trait.
She enjoyed hosting a house full of people, and she did it all with that signature flair. She was the heart of every gathering, and her bright and colorful legacy lives on in the handmade treasures she created and the precious memories she leaves with those who loved her. Flo was a woman who lived life in full color, defined by a cheerful and spunky spirit that stayed with her until the very end.
She had a large family, with two of her own daughters, Pamala Allen of Dallas, and Sherri (Kenny) Brinkoetter of Carl Junction. Three Stepchildren Pam Brady, Susan (Timothy) Sestak, & Steve Leonard. Three loved grandchildren: Amber (Brian) Mason of Argyle TX, Philip Allen of Dallas TX, and Krystal (Grant) Lewis of Seneca MO. Five step grandchildren: Brett (Monica) Brady, Kimberly Ames, Joshua & Zachary Sestack, and James Leonard. Four great grandchildren: Zane & Benjamin Scaggs, Jaret Mason and Raylee Lewis. Five step great grandchildren, and even one great, great step grandchild. In addition, she was blessed with 9 nieces and nephews and many grand nieces and nephews.
She will be remembered as a warm, kind, loving, friendly woman who was known for propping up members of her family and friends, supporting them through the many passions and difficulties of their lives. She made it her mission to encourage others and to ensure they knew she would always be there to help them in any way possible.
Her family welcomes you to attend her memorial service at Parker Mortuary in Joplin, MO on Saturday April 11 at 10AM. Donations can be made to First Community Church in Joplin in lieu of flowers.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.
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