Joann "Jody" Leonard

Joann ("Jody") W. Leonard of Roswell, New Mexico, a loving mother and friend to all who knew her, passed away on April 8, 2025, at the age of 94. She was born on July 15, 1930, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Philip Durant Walker and Kathryn Marie Lanning. She moved to Roswell at the age of 7 with her mother, stepfather, Donald D. Roff, and brother, Thomas D. Roff.
She graduated from Roswell High School in 1948 and attended Texas State College for Women. She married Jerry Newton Smith on August 20, 1950. They had a son, Clifford Grey Smith, and a daughter, Jere Kathryn Smith. She later married Robert Joseph Leonard on November 1, 2006.
She had a love for life and lived it to the fullest. She was an avid fan of the LSU Tigers. She enjoyed skiing, gardening, dancing, listening to classic jazz, traveling and decades of playing competitive duplicate bridge, having achieved a Life Master ranking. In the last years of her life she enjoyed playing competitive bridge online with players all over the world. She had a loving heart and touched all who knew her in a special way. She will be missed by many.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Jerry N. Smith, her son, Clifford Smith, and her second husband Robert Joseph Leonard. She is survived by her daughter, Jere Kathryn Smith, Clifford's four children, Lindsay, Hayley, Marbury and Grey and Clifford's grandchildren.
In accordance with her wishes, a memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m. in San Patricio, New Mexico at the Hurd Sentinel Ranch at a location near the Wyeth House where her cremated remains will be spread. A reception will follow at the Hurd La Rinconada Gallery located at 105 La Rinconada, San Patricio, NM, telephone (575) 653-4331. Casitas may be available for rent the night before the service.
A celebration of life will be held in Roswell, at a later date, for all that loved Jody.
Memorials can be made to the Roswell Assurance Home, 1000 East 18th Street, Roswell, New Mexico, or the charity of your choice.