Ray Sommer Leonard, 93, of Harlingen, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at Doctor's Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg surrounded by her loving family.
Ray was born on May 4, 1918 in Brownsville, Texas to Oscar and Laura Sommer, members of a pioneer Brownsville family. After graduating from Brownsville High School in 1936, she attended Business School. She then went to stay with an aunt in New York City, where she worked as a Supervisor at the Home for Old Israel. It was there that she met the love of her life, Leonard Leonard. He set eyes on her for the first time in an elevator and told her "you're the type of girl I want to marry." She wrote home to her mother and told her that "a crazy guy wanted to marry her." The next letter her mother received was to let her know she was getting married!
She and Leonard moved to Philadelphia, where Leslie and Alan, their first two sons, were born. After WWII, the Leonard's returned home to the Valley. They settled in Harlingen and co-founded the Army Surplus Supply Co. in June of 1946, which remains the oldest continuously operating family-owned business in downtown Harlingen.
An active member of the Jewish community of the Valley, Ray was a charter member of Temple Beth Israel in Harlingen. She was a past president of Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood. She was also a member of the First Confirmation Class of Temple Beth El in Brownsville, and a lifelong member of Hadassah.
She was a past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star #641, a life member of the Daughters of the Nile, and a long time member of the Valley Baptist Hospital Auxiliary in Harlingen. In her spare time, Ray loved going to the beach and fishing, gardening, and listening to soundtracks of Broadway shows that she knew by heart. She also enjoyed bowling and at 78 was one of the oldest members of the Women's Competitive League in Texas. She was a wonderful cook, and her strudel was absolutely the best!
Ray was greatly loved and will be profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known her. Ray was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Laura Sommer; two brothers: Sidney and David Sommer; two sisters: Mildred Sommer Whitman and Sylvia Sommer Gershowitz; her husband, Leonard Leonard, and two sons, Leslie and Donald Leonard.
She is survived by her brother, Marcel "Buddy" (Soundra), her sister, Shirley (Edwin) Supovitz; her sons, Alan (Lidia) Leonard, of Houston, Dr. Michael (Renee) Leonard M.D., of McAllen, and Dr. Philip Leonard M.D., of Austin; her grandchildren: Elan Daniel, Ethan Rafael of Houston, Theodore Samuel of San Marcos, Katherine Elizabeth of Killeen, Victoria Lauren of Austin, Oren Steven of Bethlehem, PA, and Brad Kimberly of Marietta, GA.; and a great-grandson, Ferris Patrick Kimberly; She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
The funeral service was held Friday, November 11, 2011 at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home followed by interment at Hebrew Cemetery in Brownsville.
Memorial gifts in Ray's name may be made to Temple Beth Israel, 1702 E. Jackson St., Harlingen, TX 78550 or Temple Beth El, 24 Coveway Dr., Brownsville, TX 78521.
The family would like to thank the team of providers who tended to our mother for the past three years. Your compassion, love and attention were greatly appreciated.
Published in The Monitor November 12, 2011
Ray was born on May 4, 1918 in Brownsville, Texas to Oscar and Laura Sommer, members of a pioneer Brownsville family. After graduating from Brownsville High School in 1936, she attended Business School. She then went to stay with an aunt in New York City, where she worked as a Supervisor at the Home for Old Israel. It was there that she met the love of her life, Leonard Leonard. He set eyes on her for the first time in an elevator and told her "you're the type of girl I want to marry." She wrote home to her mother and told her that "a crazy guy wanted to marry her." The next letter her mother received was to let her know she was getting married!
She and Leonard moved to Philadelphia, where Leslie and Alan, their first two sons, were born. After WWII, the Leonard's returned home to the Valley. They settled in Harlingen and co-founded the Army Surplus Supply Co. in June of 1946, which remains the oldest continuously operating family-owned business in downtown Harlingen.
An active member of the Jewish community of the Valley, Ray was a charter member of Temple Beth Israel in Harlingen. She was a past president of Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood. She was also a member of the First Confirmation Class of Temple Beth El in Brownsville, and a lifelong member of Hadassah.
She was a past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star #641, a life member of the Daughters of the Nile, and a long time member of the Valley Baptist Hospital Auxiliary in Harlingen. In her spare time, Ray loved going to the beach and fishing, gardening, and listening to soundtracks of Broadway shows that she knew by heart. She also enjoyed bowling and at 78 was one of the oldest members of the Women's Competitive League in Texas. She was a wonderful cook, and her strudel was absolutely the best!
Ray was greatly loved and will be profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known her. Ray was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Laura Sommer; two brothers: Sidney and David Sommer; two sisters: Mildred Sommer Whitman and Sylvia Sommer Gershowitz; her husband, Leonard Leonard, and two sons, Leslie and Donald Leonard.
She is survived by her brother, Marcel "Buddy" (Soundra), her sister, Shirley (Edwin) Supovitz; her sons, Alan (Lidia) Leonard, of Houston, Dr. Michael (Renee) Leonard M.D., of McAllen, and Dr. Philip Leonard M.D., of Austin; her grandchildren: Elan Daniel, Ethan Rafael of Houston, Theodore Samuel of San Marcos, Katherine Elizabeth of Killeen, Victoria Lauren of Austin, Oren Steven of Bethlehem, PA, and Brad Kimberly of Marietta, GA.; and a great-grandson, Ferris Patrick Kimberly; She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
The funeral service was held Friday, November 11, 2011 at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home followed by interment at Hebrew Cemetery in Brownsville.
Memorial gifts in Ray's name may be made to Temple Beth Israel, 1702 E. Jackson St., Harlingen, TX 78550 or Temple Beth El, 24 Coveway Dr., Brownsville, TX 78521.
The family would like to thank the team of providers who tended to our mother for the past three years. Your compassion, love and attention were greatly appreciated.
Published in The Monitor November 12, 2011
Ray Sommer Leonard, 93, of Harlingen, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at Doctor's Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg surrounded by her loving family.
Ray was born on May 4, 1918 in Brownsville, Texas to Oscar and Laura Sommer, members of a pioneer Brownsville family. After graduating from Brownsville High School in 1936, she attended Business School. She then went to stay with an aunt in New York City, where she worked as a Supervisor at the Home for Old Israel. It was there that she met the love of her life, Leonard Leonard. He set eyes on her for the first time in an elevator and told her "you're the type of girl I want to marry." She wrote home to her mother and told her that "a crazy guy wanted to marry her." The next letter her mother received was to let her know she was getting married!
She and Leonard moved to Philadelphia, where Leslie and Alan, their first two sons, were born. After WWII, the Leonard's returned home to the Valley. They settled in Harlingen and co-founded the Army Surplus Supply Co. in June of 1946, which remains the oldest continuously operating family-owned business in downtown Harlingen.
An active member of the Jewish community of the Valley, Ray was a charter member of Temple Beth Israel in Harlingen. She was a past president of Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood. She was also a member of the First Confirmation Class of Temple Beth El in Brownsville, and a lifelong member of Hadassah.
She was a past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star #641, a life member of the Daughters of the Nile, and a long time member of the Valley Baptist Hospital Auxiliary in Harlingen. In her spare time, Ray loved going to the beach and fishing, gardening, and listening to soundtracks of Broadway shows that she knew by heart. She also enjoyed bowling and at 78 was one of the oldest members of the Women's Competitive League in Texas. She was a wonderful cook, and her strudel was absolutely the best!
Ray was greatly loved and will be profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known her. Ray was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Laura Sommer; two brothers: Sidney and David Sommer; two sisters: Mildred Sommer Whitman and Sylvia Sommer Gershowitz; her husband, Leonard Leonard, and two sons, Leslie and Donald Leonard.
She is survived by her brother, Marcel "Buddy" (Soundra), her sister, Shirley (Edwin) Supovitz; her sons, Alan (Lidia) Leonard, of Houston, Dr. Michael (Renee) Leonard M.D., of McAllen, and Dr. Philip Leonard M.D., of Austin; her grandchildren: Elan Daniel, Ethan Rafael of Houston, Theodore Samuel of San Marcos, Katherine Elizabeth of Killeen, Victoria Lauren of Austin, Oren Steven of Bethlehem, PA, and Brad Kimberly of Marietta, GA.; and a great-grandson, Ferris Patrick Kimberly; She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
The funeral service was held Friday, November 11, 2011 at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home followed by interment at Hebrew Cemetery in Brownsville.
Memorial gifts in Ray's name may be made to Temple Beth Israel, 1702 E. Jackson St., Harlingen, TX 78550 or Temple Beth El, 24 Coveway Dr., Brownsville, TX 78521.
The family would like to thank the team of providers who tended to our mother for the past three years. Your compassion, love and attention were greatly appreciated.
Published in The Monitor November 12, 2011
Ray was born on May 4, 1918 in Brownsville, Texas to Oscar and Laura Sommer, members of a pioneer Brownsville family. After graduating from Brownsville High School in 1936, she attended Business School. She then went to stay with an aunt in New York City, where she worked as a Supervisor at the Home for Old Israel. It was there that she met the love of her life, Leonard Leonard. He set eyes on her for the first time in an elevator and told her "you're the type of girl I want to marry." She wrote home to her mother and told her that "a crazy guy wanted to marry her." The next letter her mother received was to let her know she was getting married!
She and Leonard moved to Philadelphia, where Leslie and Alan, their first two sons, were born. After WWII, the Leonard's returned home to the Valley. They settled in Harlingen and co-founded the Army Surplus Supply Co. in June of 1946, which remains the oldest continuously operating family-owned business in downtown Harlingen.
An active member of the Jewish community of the Valley, Ray was a charter member of Temple Beth Israel in Harlingen. She was a past president of Temple Beth Israel Sisterhood. She was also a member of the First Confirmation Class of Temple Beth El in Brownsville, and a lifelong member of Hadassah.
She was a past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star #641, a life member of the Daughters of the Nile, and a long time member of the Valley Baptist Hospital Auxiliary in Harlingen. In her spare time, Ray loved going to the beach and fishing, gardening, and listening to soundtracks of Broadway shows that she knew by heart. She also enjoyed bowling and at 78 was one of the oldest members of the Women's Competitive League in Texas. She was a wonderful cook, and her strudel was absolutely the best!
Ray was greatly loved and will be profoundly missed by all those fortunate to have known her. Ray was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Laura Sommer; two brothers: Sidney and David Sommer; two sisters: Mildred Sommer Whitman and Sylvia Sommer Gershowitz; her husband, Leonard Leonard, and two sons, Leslie and Donald Leonard.
She is survived by her brother, Marcel "Buddy" (Soundra), her sister, Shirley (Edwin) Supovitz; her sons, Alan (Lidia) Leonard, of Houston, Dr. Michael (Renee) Leonard M.D., of McAllen, and Dr. Philip Leonard M.D., of Austin; her grandchildren: Elan Daniel, Ethan Rafael of Houston, Theodore Samuel of San Marcos, Katherine Elizabeth of Killeen, Victoria Lauren of Austin, Oren Steven of Bethlehem, PA, and Brad Kimberly of Marietta, GA.; and a great-grandson, Ferris Patrick Kimberly; She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
The funeral service was held Friday, November 11, 2011 at Darling-Mouser Funeral Home followed by interment at Hebrew Cemetery in Brownsville.
Memorial gifts in Ray's name may be made to Temple Beth Israel, 1702 E. Jackson St., Harlingen, TX 78550 or Temple Beth El, 24 Coveway Dr., Brownsville, TX 78521.
The family would like to thank the team of providers who tended to our mother for the past three years. Your compassion, love and attention were greatly appreciated.
Published in The Monitor November 12, 2011
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