Leslie Gregory

Leslie Marie Jones Gregory departed this life on Monday, October 25, 2021.  Leslie grew up on a farm two miles north of Robstown, the only child of Walter Emmett Jones and Mayme Alice Evans.  In Robstown she met Dudley Barry Gregory and married him on October 25, 1946. To their union four children were born:  Lesley Susan, Robert Michael, Sandra Karen, and Alice Jo Beth.  Mom and Dad had 63 wonderful years together until he passed away on April 30, 2009.

Mom was extraordinarily talented on the piano and organ, having studied many years in Robstown with Mrs. Charles W. Homeyer.  She was in high demand as a church organist, beginning in the 1960s at Robstown’s First Methodist Church, then later at Travis Baptist Church and Morgan Avenue Baptist Church in Corpus Christi.    She instilled in all her children a deep love of music and the performing arts that persists today in their vocations and avocations.   Gregory family gatherings always featured feasts, silliness, and dozens of family and friends, all singing, playing piano and organ, and whatever other instruments or devices were handy – including a Karaoke machine!

While their children were growing up, Mom and Dad supported all their children’s extracurricular activities with enthusiasm.  Dad coached a Little League team, the Kiwanis Kowboys, while she cheered them on from the stands.  Both were very active Robstown Cotton Picker High School Band Boosters, chaperoning road trips to football games and selling refreshments at football field snack bars.  Throughout their life together, they enjoyed playing penny ante poker with a close circle of friends they had known since their days at Robstown High.  They were the heartbeat of all family gatherings.

Mom also was an excellent hand crafter and seamstress.  She sewed her daughters’ formal gowns, including their wedding dresses and bridesmaids’ dresses.  Later, we would see her stitching up and stuffing cloth dolls for her grandchildren, putting together costumes for her daughter Sandra’s dance students, and turning out intricate cross-stitch, embroidery, and crochet pieces for all those she loved.

In the 1990s, Mom and Ddd spent their retirement years in their home in the historic Lamar community on St. Charles Bay and Goose Island, just north of Rockport, Texas.  She marveled at being near the Gulf of Mexico in the midst of the beauty of nature.

After Dad died, Mom’s memory started to fail her.  But she never let that stop her from enjoying life.   She was always ready to take a road trip or to go shopping.  She didn’t care where – she just liked to be out and about.  She had a positive outlook on life and loved to engage in back-and-forth banter with her smart-alecky children.  She was blessed with a good sense of humor and a high tolerance of their cheekiness.

Leslie is survived by daughter Susan Hill and her husband Roy, son Mike Gregory and his wife Larene, daughter Sandra Viar and her husband Mickey, and daughter Jo Beth Gregory.  Her grandchildren are Sarah Hill, Julie Gregory, Christopher Gregory and his wife Jessica, Joey Gregory and his wife Katherine, and Ian Holbrook.  She leaves behind fifteen amazing great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and all the best friends her children brought to the family circle, including most especially Margaret Tobin.   The family plans to hold a private celebration of her abundant life in November in the noisy, boisterous style she loved so much.

Our deepest gratitude goes to Mrs. Leonor Quintanilla, who was Mom’s roommate during her confinement at Coastal Palms Nursing and Rehabilitation in Portland.  Mrs. “Q” befriended and supported not only Mom, but all of us who cared for her in her final weeks.  We will always remember Mrs. Quintanilla’s kindness and love.  Special thanks go to Jo Beth, who lived with Mom and cared for her after Dad died.   Jo Beth provided nurturing support to Mom for almost 13 years, and her sisters and brother don’t have the words to express their everlasting gratefulness for her devotion and sacrifice.  Lastly, all Mom’s children give thanks to Larene Gregory and Mickey Viar.  They spent many watchful hours at Mom’s bedside, helping her through her last months with us.  Our family is truly blessed.

Those who wish to remember Mom are invited to contribute to the Lamar Volunteer Fire Department, 302 Bois D’Arc Street, Rockport, Texas 78382, or to a charity of their choice.

Online condolences may be left at www.charliemarshallfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements entrusted to:

Charlie Marshall Funeral Home

814 E. Main

Rockport, Texas 78382

361-729-2451