Leon Kirby Richardson

Ms. Leon Kirby Richardson, 78, of Nederland, Texas passed away in her sleep at Cypress Glen Nursing and Rehabilitation on July 8, 2011. Leon was born on November 13, 1932 at her parents home on Black River near Jonesville, La. to Leon Kirby and Mary Alice Dayton Kirby. Leon was the eighth daughter of the clan known as the Kirby Girls and thereby named after her father. A gathering of friends and family will be held Tuesday July 12th from 4:00pm to 5:00pm with a memorial service to follow immediately at Levingston Funeral Home Chapel in Port Neches, Texas with Pastor Margaret Desmond officiating. Interment will be at Heard Cemetery in Manifest Louisiana on Wednesday July 13th following a visitation at 2:00 p.m. and memorial service held at 3:00 pm at Young's Funeral Home in Jonesville, Louisiana officiated by Reverend Clyde Weber. She earned a Registered Nursing Degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, La., married Dr. O.J. Richardson and spent the Majority of her adult life in Nederland, TX., raising her five children and becoming very active in her community. Leon served as a member and President of the Nederland Independent School District and was appointed to numerous offices within the Republican Party both on the State and National levels. She was a member of the Trinity Presbyterian Church of Pt. Neches, Texas. Leon was an avid Bridge player and will be dearly missed by not only her family, but all her dear friends within the Several Bridge Clubs of which she was a member. Leon was preceded in death by her husband Dr. O.J. Richardson, Sr. and six of her sisters. Survivors include one sister Alice Belle Zerby of Natchez Mississippi; daughters Rose Coogan (Noel) of Paris France and Lora Watts (Christopher) of Portland, Oregon; sons Charles Richardson (Regena) of Wylie, Texas, Jay Richardson (Debra) of Nederland, Texas and Joe Richardson (Phyllis) of Rogers, Arkansas; her cherished Claimed Children Desiree Guidry of Nederland, Texas, Noelle Leveque of Paris, France and Raymond Houston Bridges of San Francisco, California; grandchildren Courtney Rebert (Clint), Jay Richardson, Jr. (Natalie), Lauren Long (Steven), Adam Coogan, Kirby Richardson, Owen Coogan, Lorabelle Coogan, Shaylee Richardson, and Joseph Richardson; great grand children Camrynne Rebert, Bailey Turner, Ashlyn Long, Kenneth Richardson and Kohen Richardson; Special love and caregivers Willard and Elizabeth Baxley, Floyd and Francis Wall, Betty Wilson and Tammy Price.