Rosemary Watson Leonard, 85, of Irving, TX, passed away at her home in Irving on July 30, 2012. Surrounded by her beloved cats and mementos, she succeeded in her goal of always being at home and independent. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Donnellys Colonial Funeral Home in Irving on August 24th and at Davis-Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood, Texas, at 1:00 p.m. on August 25th. She was born October 5, 1926, to Walter Weakley Watson and Kathlyn Collins Holmes. She lost her mother the next day. Despite this tragedy, she always felt she was nonetheless fortunate since she grew up with the love and support of multiple parents her beloved grandparents, Lee Watson and Mary Weakley Watson and, of course, her father Walter Watson and her wonderful new mother, Edith Snyder Watson. They all took part in raising her. She was part of the extended Watson/Snyder clan that has always been part of Brownwood and her great-grandfather, J.C. Weakley (a Civil War veteran bugler and musician, 8th Indiana Vol. Cavalry and early Mayor of Brownwood) and grandfather Lee Watson were co-founders of one of Brownwoods institutions since 1876, Weakley-Watson Hardware. After an active and happy childhood of dance, gymnastics and even working and performing for the USO at Camp Bowie during the War, she attended the University of Texas in Austin and received a teaching certificate and Bachelor of Science degree and entered into a forty-plus year career in teaching in such diverse places as Corpus Christi, New Braunfels, Austin and Irving. In her early years she taught physical education, and later, as a lifelong battle with arthritis advanced, she switched to American History. In 1950, she married A. B. Leonard and they had one child, Walter Watson Leonard, born in 1952. Divorcing in 1962, she took on the challenge of making their way on a teachers salary. She succeeded brilliantly, providing a wonderful home and seeing her son through law school at her beloved University. Incidentally, she also found time and determination to attend Howard Payne and was awarded a Masters Degree in History (with Highest Honors) in 1966. After this, she began teaching American History in Irving and was head of the History Department long before her retirement in 1986 (reluctant to leave special friends and colleagues, she then worked as a substitute at her beloved school for almost ten more years). In retirement she was always delighted to care for her cats and garden, read her favorite authors and to be an unfailing source of light and kindness to all who knew her. She was irreplaceable. She is survived by her son, Walter Watson Leonard of Fort Worth (named after her father and brother); sister, Kay Watson Holiday of Florida and brother, Walter Watson of California. She is also survived by the entire Watson/Snyder clan of Brownwood and far flung corners of the world whom she all loved. We will always miss her.