Ray Sommer Leonard

Ray Sommer Leonard, 93, of Harlingen, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at Doctors 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 youre 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 Leonards returned home to the Valley. They settled in Harlingen and cofounded the Army Surplus Supply Co. in June of 1946, which remains the oldest continuously operating familyowned 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 Womens 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, of McAllen, and Dr. Philip Leonard, 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 greatgrandson, Ferris Patrick Kimberly She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family members.

The family will receive friends on Friday, November 11, 2011 starting at 12 noon with a chapel service officiated by Rabbi Rosenberg starting at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Hebrew Cemetery in Brownsville.

Theodore Samuel Teddy Leonard, Elan Leonard, Mitchell and Stephen Sommer, Jon Sonnen, and Jerry Alexander are honored to be serving as Rays pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Ruben Edelstein, Sammy Ladabaum, Brad Kimberly, and Aaron Daniel Sommer.

Please join the family for a shiva memorial service at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 12th 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 13th, and 6 p.m. on Monday, November 14th at the home of Dr. Michael Leonard, 212 E. Jay St., McAllen, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Rays 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.

Visitation

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Friday, November 11, 2011
12 Noon

Service

Chapel Service

DarlingMouser Funeral Home
945 Palm Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78520
Friday, November 11, 2011
1:00 p.m.

Memorial Shiva Service

Home of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Leonard
212 E. Jay Street
McAllen, TX  78504
Saturday, November 12, 2011
8 p.m.

Memorial Shiva Service

Home of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Leonard
212 E. Jay Street
McAllen, TX  78504
Sunday, November 13, 2011
6 p.m.

Cemetery

Hebrew Cemetery
Brownsville, TX  78520

Memorial Contributions

1702 E. Jackson St.
Harlingen, TX  78550


24 Coveway Drive
Brownsville, TX  78521