LESLIE MORTON-SCHOBER (nee Spruell) of Woodbridge, Virginia, formerly of Paris, passed away at her home on Sunday, June 21, 2015, after a lengthy illness. Her husband, Col. Andy Schober (Ret), was at her side.
Born on Sunday, August 25, 1957 in Alice, Texas, she was the daughter of Jerry R. and Sandra (Staples) Spruell. Her father preceded her in death, as did her grandparents, Robert Bruce and Esther (Shannon) Staples and Maurice and Ola (Jennings) Spruell; and two uncles, Bob Staples, II, and Don Spruell. In addition to her husband Andy, she is survived by a son, Robert Matthew Morton, of Florida; her mother, Sandra Christian, of Paris; a sister, Jerian Merritt and husband Rick, of Providence Village; three nieces, Jennifer Duke of Celina, Jerra Henderson and husband Danny and Kira Merritt, all of Providence Village; a nephew, Heath Parsons and wife Christian, of Bastrop; and numerous cousins, friends, business associates, educators and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
A graduate of Paris High School and Paris Junior College, she was named Outstanding Best All-around Girl with an engraved loving cup at PHS, and at P.J.C., where she taught a CETA Program after receiving her Associate Degree. Leslie did additional studies at Pan American University, in Edinburgh, then received her bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness from East Texas State University, Commerce, where she later taught and formed the University's first performing Dance Line for athletic events. While attending ETSU she became "Miss Commerce," making a name for herself, as the Ft. Worth Star Telegram wrote of her in their article "A Star Is Hatched" referring to her role as "Commerce Chicken" in comedy entertainment at the Miss Texas Pageant. Winning the Special Judges Award at state encouraged her to continue pageantry. As Miss Texas Congeniality she toured with Miss Texas, Miss USA, Miss Universe into Mexico where they were honored with Miss Mexico at the Governor's Palace by then President Vicente Fox. A special ball was given in their honor and they were awarded Silver medals of Beauty by the President. Later she moved to Dallas where she worked and modeled at the Apparel Mart under the 'wing' of Kim Dawson at her KD Studio. Leslie's associations led her to be invited to enter the Miss Dallas Pageant, which she won, and represented that city at the Miss Texas USA Pageant. There she became a semi-finalist and was named by other contestants "Miss Congeniality" and announced by Richard Guy and Rex Holt, directors of the pageant and of Guy-Rex Designs, who later introduced her to representatives of the American Broadcasting Corp. They offered her the position of Broadcast Journalist Education reporter of Chanel 5 KRGV, in Harlingen. For several years she held that position in the Valley, receiving honors from many schools in the area. Leslie retired from television journalism and left the Valley with her son to return to Paris, where she concentrated on her faith, rearing him, community service and her continuing pursuit of education. She was program director of the YWCA; dispatcher for the Sheriff's Department and later the Paris Police Department while working toward her Master's degree (which she later received from Texas A & M-Commerce). She opened her own Agency providing 'beauty boot camps for young ladies seeking confidence, overall femininity, poise and self-esteem and maintained a gift shop 'on the mountain' each summer at Canton. She was a Cub Scout Den mother and PTO-Room mother, a soccer mom and agent for her son's band 'Ground Zero'. She then became the founder and director of the Paris Junior Cotillion which graduated over 2,000 Paris area young people. Leslie was also the founder of the Miss Teen Paris pageant, sending young women from Lamar, Delta, Red River and Hopkins counties to State competition, at that time, the youngest pageant director in the State. Theses two of Leslie's programs have continued for 33 years. Leslie was honored to be named to the registry of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" by Senator A.M. Aikin, a registry at the state capitol serving as a tribute to young women of Texas. Leslie was honored by five Texas Governors with certificates embossed with the gold seal of Texas for the Cotillion's Educational Impact through the Paris Junior Cotillion, and with a Texas flag that had flown over the Capitol by Representative Mark Homer. Her students honored her with silver trays, flowers and gifts and promises to mind their manners, always. Living in Frisco, Leslie taught an afternoon Elementary Education Enrichment Program, tutoring students after school hours, assisting with homework and dealing with problem areas of the learning process. This program was a Frisco ISD elementary education endeavor. In Dallas, Leslie was a consultant for Dior, Chanel, Gucci and Clarins and taught classes at Barbizon. She managed her son's commercial and television career and was always by his side at shoots. Once the director of "Dr. T and the Women', with Richard Gere, saw her on the set next door and asked her to do a small speaking part in his film which she did following the close of Matt's school day. ("Another fun life experience, she thought.") Moving to Virginia, she immediately became involved in education again, teaching at Northern Virginia Community College and later at George Mason University, where she wrote the curriculum for her own class, "Professionalism and Civility", which was in the University's department of Health, Recreation and Tourism; the first course of its kind on a major U.S. campus. It was later adopted by GMU as a mandatory course for seniors. Her students called her the 'Civility Sheriff' and she dubbed them 'Ambassadors of Civility'. Leslie and her students instituted "Civility Days" on campus, giving away 'Civilitea', 'Civilicakes' and other goodie vouchers to students who were 'caught being extra polite and mannerly". She was Keynote speaker at St. Benedictine University's Professionalism and Civility workshops, and received the St. Benedictine appreciation medal. She also was keynote speaker on Civility for the U.S. Census Bureau Conference in Florida and the annual conference meeting of the Association of Image Consults, Int. in Hawaii. She was one of 130 to lay Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery but U.S. A. Today selected her in red cowboy hat for the front page picture. The photo appeared in over one-hundred newspapers across the nation. Leslie's association with the Miss and Miss Teen Virginia Pageants was acknowledged by a Waterford Crystal Trophy, presented to her by the pageant directors, Kim Nicewonder Johnson and Pat (Mrs. Emmit) Smith, former Miss Virginia winners. Her judging and support of the Shenandoah Fair Queens pageant was acknowledged with gifts and silver trays. Leslie's programs of Beauty Boot Camp have also been presented by her at the Sidwell School in the District of Columbia. The school's summer program of "Girl Power' included Leslie's presentations for several years. Leslie's books: Professionalism and Civility, subtitled, 'Nice Manners;' and her children's book, 'Bee Your Best' are currently in publication. A consummate, effervescent cheerleader since the age of two, when she was mascot for the Cushing, Oklahoma High School cheer squad, Leslie went on to be an East Paris Elementary flag football cheerleader; a Crockett Middle School cheerleader; Junior Varsity and Varsity Paris High School yell leader; Paris Junior College yell leader for two years, then two years as a cheerleader at Pan American University, Edinburgh.
Leslie was a devout Christian, who loved her family and friends. She loved snowflakes, mountains, cows, cats and Chocolate Labradors; the Shenandoah Valley; the state of Virginia; the beaches of the Mediterranean and Florida, the lower Rio Grande Valley and West Point, New York (where she and her husband were married); the sanctuary of First Methodist Church of Paris; Gardenias, and Magnolia trees. Leslie was born on a Sunday and passed away on a Sunday. She will be memorialized and thanksgiving given for her life on Sunday, July 19th at First United Methodist Church of Paris, at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall of the church.
Born on Sunday, August 25, 1957 in Alice, Texas, she was the daughter of Jerry R. and Sandra (Staples) Spruell. Her father preceded her in death, as did her grandparents, Robert Bruce and Esther (Shannon) Staples and Maurice and Ola (Jennings) Spruell; and two uncles, Bob Staples, II, and Don Spruell. In addition to her husband Andy, she is survived by a son, Robert Matthew Morton, of Florida; her mother, Sandra Christian, of Paris; a sister, Jerian Merritt and husband Rick, of Providence Village; three nieces, Jennifer Duke of Celina, Jerra Henderson and husband Danny and Kira Merritt, all of Providence Village; a nephew, Heath Parsons and wife Christian, of Bastrop; and numerous cousins, friends, business associates, educators and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
A graduate of Paris High School and Paris Junior College, she was named Outstanding Best All-around Girl with an engraved loving cup at PHS, and at P.J.C., where she taught a CETA Program after receiving her Associate Degree. Leslie did additional studies at Pan American University, in Edinburgh, then received her bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness from East Texas State University, Commerce, where she later taught and formed the University's first performing Dance Line for athletic events. While attending ETSU she became "Miss Commerce," making a name for herself, as the Ft. Worth Star Telegram wrote of her in their article "A Star Is Hatched" referring to her role as "Commerce Chicken" in comedy entertainment at the Miss Texas Pageant. Winning the Special Judges Award at state encouraged her to continue pageantry. As Miss Texas Congeniality she toured with Miss Texas, Miss USA, Miss Universe into Mexico where they were honored with Miss Mexico at the Governor's Palace by then President Vicente Fox. A special ball was given in their honor and they were awarded Silver medals of Beauty by the President. Later she moved to Dallas where she worked and modeled at the Apparel Mart under the 'wing' of Kim Dawson at her KD Studio. Leslie's associations led her to be invited to enter the Miss Dallas Pageant, which she won, and represented that city at the Miss Texas USA Pageant. There she became a semi-finalist and was named by other contestants "Miss Congeniality" and announced by Richard Guy and Rex Holt, directors of the pageant and of Guy-Rex Designs, who later introduced her to representatives of the American Broadcasting Corp. They offered her the position of Broadcast Journalist Education reporter of Chanel 5 KRGV, in Harlingen. For several years she held that position in the Valley, receiving honors from many schools in the area. Leslie retired from television journalism and left the Valley with her son to return to Paris, where she concentrated on her faith, rearing him, community service and her continuing pursuit of education. She was program director of the YWCA; dispatcher for the Sheriff's Department and later the Paris Police Department while working toward her Master's degree (which she later received from Texas A & M-Commerce). She opened her own Agency providing 'beauty boot camps for young ladies seeking confidence, overall femininity, poise and self-esteem and maintained a gift shop 'on the mountain' each summer at Canton. She was a Cub Scout Den mother and PTO-Room mother, a soccer mom and agent for her son's band 'Ground Zero'. She then became the founder and director of the Paris Junior Cotillion which graduated over 2,000 Paris area young people. Leslie was also the founder of the Miss Teen Paris pageant, sending young women from Lamar, Delta, Red River and Hopkins counties to State competition, at that time, the youngest pageant director in the State. Theses two of Leslie's programs have continued for 33 years. Leslie was honored to be named to the registry of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" by Senator A.M. Aikin, a registry at the state capitol serving as a tribute to young women of Texas. Leslie was honored by five Texas Governors with certificates embossed with the gold seal of Texas for the Cotillion's Educational Impact through the Paris Junior Cotillion, and with a Texas flag that had flown over the Capitol by Representative Mark Homer. Her students honored her with silver trays, flowers and gifts and promises to mind their manners, always. Living in Frisco, Leslie taught an afternoon Elementary Education Enrichment Program, tutoring students after school hours, assisting with homework and dealing with problem areas of the learning process. This program was a Frisco ISD elementary education endeavor. In Dallas, Leslie was a consultant for Dior, Chanel, Gucci and Clarins and taught classes at Barbizon. She managed her son's commercial and television career and was always by his side at shoots. Once the director of "Dr. T and the Women', with Richard Gere, saw her on the set next door and asked her to do a small speaking part in his film which she did following the close of Matt's school day. ("Another fun life experience, she thought.") Moving to Virginia, she immediately became involved in education again, teaching at Northern Virginia Community College and later at George Mason University, where she wrote the curriculum for her own class, "Professionalism and Civility", which was in the University's department of Health, Recreation and Tourism; the first course of its kind on a major U.S. campus. It was later adopted by GMU as a mandatory course for seniors. Her students called her the 'Civility Sheriff' and she dubbed them 'Ambassadors of Civility'. Leslie and her students instituted "Civility Days" on campus, giving away 'Civilitea', 'Civilicakes' and other goodie vouchers to students who were 'caught being extra polite and mannerly". She was Keynote speaker at St. Benedictine University's Professionalism and Civility workshops, and received the St. Benedictine appreciation medal. She also was keynote speaker on Civility for the U.S. Census Bureau Conference in Florida and the annual conference meeting of the Association of Image Consults, Int. in Hawaii. She was one of 130 to lay Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery but U.S. A. Today selected her in red cowboy hat for the front page picture. The photo appeared in over one-hundred newspapers across the nation. Leslie's association with the Miss and Miss Teen Virginia Pageants was acknowledged by a Waterford Crystal Trophy, presented to her by the pageant directors, Kim Nicewonder Johnson and Pat (Mrs. Emmit) Smith, former Miss Virginia winners. Her judging and support of the Shenandoah Fair Queens pageant was acknowledged with gifts and silver trays. Leslie's programs of Beauty Boot Camp have also been presented by her at the Sidwell School in the District of Columbia. The school's summer program of "Girl Power' included Leslie's presentations for several years. Leslie's books: Professionalism and Civility, subtitled, 'Nice Manners;' and her children's book, 'Bee Your Best' are currently in publication. A consummate, effervescent cheerleader since the age of two, when she was mascot for the Cushing, Oklahoma High School cheer squad, Leslie went on to be an East Paris Elementary flag football cheerleader; a Crockett Middle School cheerleader; Junior Varsity and Varsity Paris High School yell leader; Paris Junior College yell leader for two years, then two years as a cheerleader at Pan American University, Edinburgh.
Leslie was a devout Christian, who loved her family and friends. She loved snowflakes, mountains, cows, cats and Chocolate Labradors; the Shenandoah Valley; the state of Virginia; the beaches of the Mediterranean and Florida, the lower Rio Grande Valley and West Point, New York (where she and her husband were married); the sanctuary of First Methodist Church of Paris; Gardenias, and Magnolia trees. Leslie was born on a Sunday and passed away on a Sunday. She will be memorialized and thanksgiving given for her life on Sunday, July 19th at First United Methodist Church of Paris, at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall of the church.
LESLIE MORTON-SCHOBER (nee Spruell) of Woodbridge, Virginia, formerly of Paris, passed away at her home on Sunday, June 21, 2015, after a lengthy illness. Her husband, Col. Andy Schober (Ret), was at her side.
Born on Sunday, August 25, 1957 in Alice, Texas, she was the daughter of Jerry R. and Sandra (Staples) Spruell. Her father preceded her in death, as did her grandparents, Robert Bruce and Esther (Shannon) Staples and Maurice and Ola (Jennings) Spruell; and two uncles, Bob Staples, II, and Don Spruell. In addition to her husband Andy, she is survived by a son, Robert Matthew Morton, of Florida; her mother, Sandra Christian, of Paris; a sister, Jerian Merritt and husband Rick, of Providence Village; three nieces, Jennifer Duke of Celina, Jerra Henderson and husband Danny and Kira Merritt, all of Providence Village; a nephew, Heath Parsons and wife Christian, of Bastrop; and numerous cousins, friends, business associates, educators and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
A graduate of Paris High School and Paris Junior College, she was named Outstanding Best All-around Girl with an engraved loving cup at PHS, and at P.J.C., where she taught a CETA Program after receiving her Associate Degree. Leslie did additional studies at Pan American University, in Edinburgh, then received her bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness from East Texas State University, Commerce, where she later taught and formed the University's first performing Dance Line for athletic events. While attending ETSU she became "Miss Commerce," making a name for herself, as the Ft. Worth Star Telegram wrote of her in their article "A Star Is Hatched" referring to her role as "Commerce Chicken" in comedy entertainment at the Miss Texas Pageant. Winning the Special Judges Award at state encouraged her to continue pageantry. As Miss Texas Congeniality she toured with Miss Texas, Miss USA, Miss Universe into Mexico where they were honored with Miss Mexico at the Governor's Palace by then President Vicente Fox. A special ball was given in their honor and they were awarded Silver medals of Beauty by the President. Later she moved to Dallas where she worked and modeled at the Apparel Mart under the 'wing' of Kim Dawson at her KD Studio. Leslie's associations led her to be invited to enter the Miss Dallas Pageant, which she won, and represented that city at the Miss Texas USA Pageant. There she became a semi-finalist and was named by other contestants "Miss Congeniality" and announced by Richard Guy and Rex Holt, directors of the pageant and of Guy-Rex Designs, who later introduced her to representatives of the American Broadcasting Corp. They offered her the position of Broadcast Journalist Education reporter of Chanel 5 KRGV, in Harlingen. For several years she held that position in the Valley, receiving honors from many schools in the area. Leslie retired from television journalism and left the Valley with her son to return to Paris, where she concentrated on her faith, rearing him, community service and her continuing pursuit of education. She was program director of the YWCA; dispatcher for the Sheriff's Department and later the Paris Police Department while working toward her Master's degree (which she later received from Texas A & M-Commerce). She opened her own Agency providing 'beauty boot camps for young ladies seeking confidence, overall femininity, poise and self-esteem and maintained a gift shop 'on the mountain' each summer at Canton. She was a Cub Scout Den mother and PTO-Room mother, a soccer mom and agent for her son's band 'Ground Zero'. She then became the founder and director of the Paris Junior Cotillion which graduated over 2,000 Paris area young people. Leslie was also the founder of the Miss Teen Paris pageant, sending young women from Lamar, Delta, Red River and Hopkins counties to State competition, at that time, the youngest pageant director in the State. Theses two of Leslie's programs have continued for 33 years. Leslie was honored to be named to the registry of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" by Senator A.M. Aikin, a registry at the state capitol serving as a tribute to young women of Texas. Leslie was honored by five Texas Governors with certificates embossed with the gold seal of Texas for the Cotillion's Educational Impact through the Paris Junior Cotillion, and with a Texas flag that had flown over the Capitol by Representative Mark Homer. Her students honored her with silver trays, flowers and gifts and promises to mind their manners, always. Living in Frisco, Leslie taught an afternoon Elementary Education Enrichment Program, tutoring students after school hours, assisting with homework and dealing with problem areas of the learning process. This program was a Frisco ISD elementary education endeavor. In Dallas, Leslie was a consultant for Dior, Chanel, Gucci and Clarins and taught classes at Barbizon. She managed her son's commercial and television career and was always by his side at shoots. Once the director of "Dr. T and the Women', with Richard Gere, saw her on the set next door and asked her to do a small speaking part in his film which she did following the close of Matt's school day. ("Another fun life experience, she thought.") Moving to Virginia, she immediately became involved in education again, teaching at Northern Virginia Community College and later at George Mason University, where she wrote the curriculum for her own class, "Professionalism and Civility", which was in the University's department of Health, Recreation and Tourism; the first course of its kind on a major U.S. campus. It was later adopted by GMU as a mandatory course for seniors. Her students called her the 'Civility Sheriff' and she dubbed them 'Ambassadors of Civility'. Leslie and her students instituted "Civility Days" on campus, giving away 'Civilitea', 'Civilicakes' and other goodie vouchers to students who were 'caught being extra polite and mannerly". She was Keynote speaker at St. Benedictine University's Professionalism and Civility workshops, and received the St. Benedictine appreciation medal. She also was keynote speaker on Civility for the U.S. Census Bureau Conference in Florida and the annual conference meeting of the Association of Image Consults, Int. in Hawaii. She was one of 130 to lay Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery but U.S. A. Today selected her in red cowboy hat for the front page picture. The photo appeared in over one-hundred newspapers across the nation. Leslie's association with the Miss and Miss Teen Virginia Pageants was acknowledged by a Waterford Crystal Trophy, presented to her by the pageant directors, Kim Nicewonder Johnson and Pat (Mrs. Emmit) Smith, former Miss Virginia winners. Her judging and support of the Shenandoah Fair Queens pageant was acknowledged with gifts and silver trays. Leslie's programs of Beauty Boot Camp have also been presented by her at the Sidwell School in the District of Columbia. The school's summer program of "Girl Power' included Leslie's presentations for several years. Leslie's books: Professionalism and Civility, subtitled, 'Nice Manners;' and her children's book, 'Bee Your Best' are currently in publication. A consummate, effervescent cheerleader since the age of two, when she was mascot for the Cushing, Oklahoma High School cheer squad, Leslie went on to be an East Paris Elementary flag football cheerleader; a Crockett Middle School cheerleader; Junior Varsity and Varsity Paris High School yell leader; Paris Junior College yell leader for two years, then two years as a cheerleader at Pan American University, Edinburgh.
Leslie was a devout Christian, who loved her family and friends. She loved snowflakes, mountains, cows, cats and Chocolate Labradors; the Shenandoah Valley; the state of Virginia; the beaches of the Mediterranean and Florida, the lower Rio Grande Valley and West Point, New York (where she and her husband were married); the sanctuary of First Methodist Church of Paris; Gardenias, and Magnolia trees. Leslie was born on a Sunday and passed away on a Sunday. She will be memorialized and thanksgiving given for her life on Sunday, July 19th at First United Methodist Church of Paris, at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall of the church.
Born on Sunday, August 25, 1957 in Alice, Texas, she was the daughter of Jerry R. and Sandra (Staples) Spruell. Her father preceded her in death, as did her grandparents, Robert Bruce and Esther (Shannon) Staples and Maurice and Ola (Jennings) Spruell; and two uncles, Bob Staples, II, and Don Spruell. In addition to her husband Andy, she is survived by a son, Robert Matthew Morton, of Florida; her mother, Sandra Christian, of Paris; a sister, Jerian Merritt and husband Rick, of Providence Village; three nieces, Jennifer Duke of Celina, Jerra Henderson and husband Danny and Kira Merritt, all of Providence Village; a nephew, Heath Parsons and wife Christian, of Bastrop; and numerous cousins, friends, business associates, educators and professionals in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
A graduate of Paris High School and Paris Junior College, she was named Outstanding Best All-around Girl with an engraved loving cup at PHS, and at P.J.C., where she taught a CETA Program after receiving her Associate Degree. Leslie did additional studies at Pan American University, in Edinburgh, then received her bachelor's degree in Health and Wellness from East Texas State University, Commerce, where she later taught and formed the University's first performing Dance Line for athletic events. While attending ETSU she became "Miss Commerce," making a name for herself, as the Ft. Worth Star Telegram wrote of her in their article "A Star Is Hatched" referring to her role as "Commerce Chicken" in comedy entertainment at the Miss Texas Pageant. Winning the Special Judges Award at state encouraged her to continue pageantry. As Miss Texas Congeniality she toured with Miss Texas, Miss USA, Miss Universe into Mexico where they were honored with Miss Mexico at the Governor's Palace by then President Vicente Fox. A special ball was given in their honor and they were awarded Silver medals of Beauty by the President. Later she moved to Dallas where she worked and modeled at the Apparel Mart under the 'wing' of Kim Dawson at her KD Studio. Leslie's associations led her to be invited to enter the Miss Dallas Pageant, which she won, and represented that city at the Miss Texas USA Pageant. There she became a semi-finalist and was named by other contestants "Miss Congeniality" and announced by Richard Guy and Rex Holt, directors of the pageant and of Guy-Rex Designs, who later introduced her to representatives of the American Broadcasting Corp. They offered her the position of Broadcast Journalist Education reporter of Chanel 5 KRGV, in Harlingen. For several years she held that position in the Valley, receiving honors from many schools in the area. Leslie retired from television journalism and left the Valley with her son to return to Paris, where she concentrated on her faith, rearing him, community service and her continuing pursuit of education. She was program director of the YWCA; dispatcher for the Sheriff's Department and later the Paris Police Department while working toward her Master's degree (which she later received from Texas A & M-Commerce). She opened her own Agency providing 'beauty boot camps for young ladies seeking confidence, overall femininity, poise and self-esteem and maintained a gift shop 'on the mountain' each summer at Canton. She was a Cub Scout Den mother and PTO-Room mother, a soccer mom and agent for her son's band 'Ground Zero'. She then became the founder and director of the Paris Junior Cotillion which graduated over 2,000 Paris area young people. Leslie was also the founder of the Miss Teen Paris pageant, sending young women from Lamar, Delta, Red River and Hopkins counties to State competition, at that time, the youngest pageant director in the State. Theses two of Leslie's programs have continued for 33 years. Leslie was honored to be named to the registry of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" by Senator A.M. Aikin, a registry at the state capitol serving as a tribute to young women of Texas. Leslie was honored by five Texas Governors with certificates embossed with the gold seal of Texas for the Cotillion's Educational Impact through the Paris Junior Cotillion, and with a Texas flag that had flown over the Capitol by Representative Mark Homer. Her students honored her with silver trays, flowers and gifts and promises to mind their manners, always. Living in Frisco, Leslie taught an afternoon Elementary Education Enrichment Program, tutoring students after school hours, assisting with homework and dealing with problem areas of the learning process. This program was a Frisco ISD elementary education endeavor. In Dallas, Leslie was a consultant for Dior, Chanel, Gucci and Clarins and taught classes at Barbizon. She managed her son's commercial and television career and was always by his side at shoots. Once the director of "Dr. T and the Women', with Richard Gere, saw her on the set next door and asked her to do a small speaking part in his film which she did following the close of Matt's school day. ("Another fun life experience, she thought.") Moving to Virginia, she immediately became involved in education again, teaching at Northern Virginia Community College and later at George Mason University, where she wrote the curriculum for her own class, "Professionalism and Civility", which was in the University's department of Health, Recreation and Tourism; the first course of its kind on a major U.S. campus. It was later adopted by GMU as a mandatory course for seniors. Her students called her the 'Civility Sheriff' and she dubbed them 'Ambassadors of Civility'. Leslie and her students instituted "Civility Days" on campus, giving away 'Civilitea', 'Civilicakes' and other goodie vouchers to students who were 'caught being extra polite and mannerly". She was Keynote speaker at St. Benedictine University's Professionalism and Civility workshops, and received the St. Benedictine appreciation medal. She also was keynote speaker on Civility for the U.S. Census Bureau Conference in Florida and the annual conference meeting of the Association of Image Consults, Int. in Hawaii. She was one of 130 to lay Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery but U.S. A. Today selected her in red cowboy hat for the front page picture. The photo appeared in over one-hundred newspapers across the nation. Leslie's association with the Miss and Miss Teen Virginia Pageants was acknowledged by a Waterford Crystal Trophy, presented to her by the pageant directors, Kim Nicewonder Johnson and Pat (Mrs. Emmit) Smith, former Miss Virginia winners. Her judging and support of the Shenandoah Fair Queens pageant was acknowledged with gifts and silver trays. Leslie's programs of Beauty Boot Camp have also been presented by her at the Sidwell School in the District of Columbia. The school's summer program of "Girl Power' included Leslie's presentations for several years. Leslie's books: Professionalism and Civility, subtitled, 'Nice Manners;' and her children's book, 'Bee Your Best' are currently in publication. A consummate, effervescent cheerleader since the age of two, when she was mascot for the Cushing, Oklahoma High School cheer squad, Leslie went on to be an East Paris Elementary flag football cheerleader; a Crockett Middle School cheerleader; Junior Varsity and Varsity Paris High School yell leader; Paris Junior College yell leader for two years, then two years as a cheerleader at Pan American University, Edinburgh.
Leslie was a devout Christian, who loved her family and friends. She loved snowflakes, mountains, cows, cats and Chocolate Labradors; the Shenandoah Valley; the state of Virginia; the beaches of the Mediterranean and Florida, the lower Rio Grande Valley and West Point, New York (where she and her husband were married); the sanctuary of First Methodist Church of Paris; Gardenias, and Magnolia trees. Leslie was born on a Sunday and passed away on a Sunday. She will be memorialized and thanksgiving given for her life on Sunday, July 19th at First United Methodist Church of Paris, at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall of the church.
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