OBITUARY: EVELYN LEONARD

She was office manager for the Greater La Mirada Chamber of Commerce when it was considered one of the most prestigious in all of Southern California

Evelyn R. Leonard was born on August 4, 1925, in Wilmington, California, to George and Ruth (Smith) Hendrickson. She passed away last month on October 10, 2014 in Whittier, California at the age of 89. She was a second generation "native" and was raised in Inglewood, California.

Evelyn graduated from Inglewood High School and Los Angeles City College, with a major in International Relations.

She met and married, Robert “Bob” Leonard, who also is another second generation “native.”

She is also survived by her two sons, Paul and Matthew, who were born before the 1960 move to the present home in La Mirada.

The history of La Mirada caught Leonard's eye as seen in this 1965 drawing.

Evelyn was involved in the activities of their new community, La Mirada, an involvement that has been shared by the couple during their 54 year residence in La Mirada.

She was the first director of the La Mirada Youth Employment Service in 1968, and two years later, the office manager of La Mirada Chamber of Commerce.

Evelyn and Bob are also Life Members of the Friends of the La Mirada Library. She was very active with the library and actually spent nights at the library watching the books that were on sale at the annual book sales back when the events were held outside the building.

Mrs. Leonard was also very active in helping with the preservation of La Mirada’s history.

She left the Chamber in 1984 to become a "full time" volunteer, enjoy her family, travel and take care of a home that was always open to international guests.