Iris Margaret Wood-Leonard

Iris Margaret Wood-Leonard, was born at home at #3 Crutchford Cottages, on Crutchford Lane in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey England, April 11, 1930. She lived a long and adventurous 91 years. On June 3, 2021 she was released from this earthly home to finally rest and enjoy the peace she longed for. Though Iris was a resident of the MS Gulf Coast for over 40 years, her heart and heritage belonged to her beloved England and her cherished family and friends from “across the pond”. She would say to her family, “Every time I fly into Gatwick, I get a lump in my throat looking at the patch-work tapestry of the English countryside from the air. It is a feeling of coming home…my home…my England.” Mom captured her feelings of her homeland in this poem she wrote in 1983. The poem was first place winner of the 1984 Poetry Contest published in “Together Again”, the Official Journal of the Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association. My England My England is green and filled with flowers, Lazy rivers to dream on for hours, Rugged moors and leafy lanes, Shimmering lakes fed by gentle rains. My England is tea in the afternoon, Blossoms in May and roses in June. Pretty thatched cottages with open doors, White picket fences and golden shores. My England is seagulls screaming over the wind, Salt in the air and fog rolling in. Snow in the dales, pure and white, Wet narrow streets, reflecting gas lights. My England is village greens and shops, Oast houses and fields of hops, Woods and meadows, sheep in the field, Historic castles, ghosts and tales of old. My England is fifth of November-Gunpowder plot, Bonfires, fireworks, potatoes so hot. Rosy cheeked children on a frosty morn, Hot buttered crumpets round a fire so warm. My England is cities, bright lights aglowing, Local palais, music and laughter are flowing. The rustle of leaves on a crisp autumn day, Walking through woods, scuffling leaves as they lay. My England is taxicabs, horses and carts, Friendly pubs and games of darts, Holly and berries - crackers and pud, Filled stockings and pillowslips, if we were good. Some of these scenes to the past have gone, But in my heart, they will always live on, For the England I dream of, will always be, A beautiful symphony of my memories. Iris was born in a riverside village in southern England about 25 miles southwest of London, prior to WW2. Before the age of four, her mother gave birth to her younger brother who died a few days later. Her father was a dental engineer, but due to an active pituitary tumor was an invalid from the time she was 7yrs old until he died 5yrs later. His name is preserved in London medical journals as being one of the first brain surgeries of its kind. She does not remember much of their time together other than when he was ill and she had to move out of the house to protect her from his painful outbursts as his body abnormally grew beyond its physical limits. But he was a wonderful father, a gentle man, kind and loving, and terribly courageous. Her mother worked hard to support their little family and rarely complained. Wartime was hard and frightening, being near to London they had their share of bombings, fires and food shortages. Their diets were not nutritious, being mostly potatoes and vegetables, which they grew in their small gardens with little meat, dairy products, or protein. Mandatory education in England at that time was basic and school leaving age 14yrs. At 11yrs old every child took the exam for a scholarship to Secondary School and a chance to further education. Iris received a part scholarship but there was not enough money for her to accept it. Her mother was working long, hard hours just to feed and care for them and there was nothing to spare. Despite the devastation of a war-torn community, Iris maintained a fun-loving personality and a contagious smile. During her primary school years, Iris recalls the times she pulled on the pigtails of a younger school girl, Julie when they queued up outside with their class and marched into school. Their mum’s were friends for a short time and showed extraordinary kindness for each other’s families. Many years later, the two reunited for a brief moment at Julie’s wedding in Walton. To the world Julie would become a star and the beloved, Mary Poppins, but to Iris, Julie was a sweet memory of a kind schoolgirl with an extraordinary talent that she shared often in their beloved Walton. At age 14 during the end of WW2, Iris started work at a local bakery shop at the top of Sunbury Lane. A year later, her goddaughter, Carol was born. Though she herself was only a child, Iris helped raise Carol during those tough years when Carol’s dad, Iris’ uncle Bill was a “Desert Rat”, a soldier in the 8th Army, The Kings Royal Rifle Regiment, helping to defeat the Germans in North Africa. Iris often walked to work pushing Carol in her pram, tending to her throughout the day then returning home with her after work. Throughout her career, Iris always involved Carol and her younger sister Diane in special work events and activities. One such time, Iris made the girls dresses for a work Fancy-Dress Christmas party in 1952. Carol was dressed as Queen Elizabeth II and Diane dressed as Queen Elizabeth I. They both wore those dresses six month later for their local Shepperton’s celebration of Queen Elizabeth II Coronation. After a few years at the bakery shop, Iris worked as a receptionist and telephone switchboard operator at Lawes Rabjohns, LTD, an architectural export company, where she worked for several years. At Rabjohns, she wrote for the company newsletter and was a member of their ladies’ cricket team. During this time, in her early twenties, she joined the Girls Nautical Training Core (GNTC) Sunbury and Walton Unit #78 under the command of Lady Pamela Mountbatten (Lord Louis Mountbatten’s daughter) at TS Black Swan – a sea cadet corp unit in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. “TS” stands for Training Ship and the HMS Black Swan had a long, battle career with the British Royal Navy. It wasn’t long before Iris was promoted to the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve as a Training Officer, instructing young women for their duties in the Women’s Royal Naval Service. She was the only female officer to own her own car, which was quite an accomplishment for those days. Because of that, it was her duty to drive to Walton-on-Thames Railway Station and escort Lady Pamela to and from the base during her visits. They were the same age and became friends, as much as one can with a British aristocrat and relative of the British royal family. Iris fondly recalled those drives back to the Railway Station when, on many occasions, Lady Pamela would say, “Come on Iris, let’s get ourselves a whiskey”, and they would pop into The Ashley Park Hotel for a quick drink and a laugh. Iris had a wit and a way about her that was infectious, spontaneous, and fun. She loved people and no one was a stranger. In her late twenties, after a broken heart and a time for change, she left the export company and took a job out of the area to East Anglia to work as a civil service clerk at RAF Bentwaters, Liason Office. It was there she met her future husband. He was transferred back to the U.S. before they were able to marry, so in December 1959, at great cost, she travelled by air to New York then to Dallas where he met her and they were married shortly after in Lubbock, Texas. In 1966, in Larado, TX, Iris finally fulfilled a life-long dream and become a mother when she and Bill adopted 18-month-old twins, Lisa and Lee, formally known as Laurie and Larry Garza. Iris dedicated her life to her children and was a devoted and doting mother. After many years moving with the U.S. Air Force, the family finally settled in Ocean Springs, MS in 1976. In 1979, she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved the Lord and was a devout Christian and member the Church her entire life. She came into-her-own after her husband died in 1986. Iris was active in her community. She was a members and President of the Mississippi Teasippers for many years – an organization for British Brides of U.S. servicemen, which kept her connection to England alive. She loved to write. For a time, she was a writer for the Ocean Springs Record and was a frequent contributor to “Letters to the Editor” in the Daily Harold. She was an activist for all she held dear and sacred. She loved photography, music and singing and performed in and directed many local choral events. Later in life, she discovered acting in little theatre and was a regular with the Walter Anderson Players. Her love for travel never ceased only her ability due to an aging body. One of her greatest passions in life was her love and advocacy for animals. Her fur companions, most of them rescues were more than pets…they were family and often her friends during so much time alone. The ASPCA –in the U.S. and Hillside Animal Sanctuary in the U.K., were recipients of her generosity for decades. Iris was a feisty, loving soul; cared deeply for family and friends. She was a fighter, courageous and brave beyond what any of us will ever truly know. The greatest tragedy in her life was the ravaging effects of mental illness, and dementia. Though these illnesses changed the personality of the Iris we all knew and loved, it is a testament to the depth of her character and the beauty of her soul that she was so loved by so many during all her years. Her kindness, adventurous spirit, her laugh, her creative talents, love of animals, and her most extraordinary life stories will be sorely missed. Speaking on a personal note, as her daughter….to all family and friends who loved her and were such a help to our family, especially in her elder years…our deepest gratitude! Thank you from the depths of our hearts. Not unlike raising a child it took a village…so many people, so many talents, so much patience to keep her safe and help preserve her dignity to the end." Iris is preceded in death by her husband, William Leonard, parents, Frederick and Margaret-“Maggie” Wood, her brother, her Uncle Bill and Aunt Lily and, her beloved companions, Skipper, Cindy, Bogey, Pepper, and Cody. Survivors include her children, Lisa and Lee Leonard, her goddaughter, Carol Harris, her grandson, Jason Leonard, her cousins Diane & Richard Wood, Melanie and Fiona Lewis. Services will be held at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs, on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 12noon. Friends may visit one-hour prior. Interment will follow at the Biloxi National Cemetery. It was mom’s wish that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the ASPCA or her cherished, Hillside Animal Sanctuary at www.hillside.org.uk