Long time Tri-Cities resident Leona Bertha Anna Ayres Mattison died of congestive heart failure on February 21 while residing at the Eagle Assisted Living facility in Richland where she was living these last months of her life. At 95 years of age Leona knew that she had lived a long and very fulfilling life marked not only by her own remarkable personal achievements, but also of service to others. It was her attention to the needs of others which has made her so beloved by all who knew her.

Leona was born August 31, 1913 in Lebanon, Illinois to George and Thelma Jacob. Because of poverty, her early life was a troubled one. Always a gifted student, she graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1930 and entered McKendree College the next year. The income from a small grocery store her parents owned and the pennies saved by a very frugal mother working as a seamstress paid her tuition. After 3 years of college she was able to secure a teaching position at the very elementary school she had attended as a child. While taking evening classes to finish her degree, she met her future husband John A. Gus Ayres. At the time he was teaching mathematics at Beckemeyer High school, but was working towards his Masters degree in Chemistry at the University of Illinois. They would not be married until 6 years later, but in the meantime Leona too finished a Masters degree in History. She later took a job as librarian at the Ames Public Library after Gus accepted a position at Iowa State University. Little did either of them know then, that by working towards his PHD in Chemistry in Ames, he would become a part of the Manhattan Project which so dramatically brought an end to World War II. It was also this happenstance which eventually brought the both of them to Richland in 1951, where they settled into the little "ranch house" on Torbett Street where she would live for almost 50 years.

Leona finished her Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Washington in 1955 and was subsequently hired to serve in the Kennewick Public Library. Two years later she took the position as librarian at Jefferson Elementary School in Richland where she worked until her retirement in 1975. During most of her long life in Richland Leona was as well known for her work in service organizations as she was as a librarian. She was granted honorary status as life member of the Washington State Federation of Garden Clubs for her work as District director of the organization and for the work she accomplished as a local official of two garden clubs. Earth Angels, now located in the Desert Aire community, was founded by Leona while she was still in her mid 80's, a remarkable testament to the fortitude and commitment which has characterized any Endeavour she has ever undertaken. Leona was also a member of the DF Chapter of P.E.O., serving one term as that organization's president. Providing academic opportunities for deserving young women has long been a priority interest for Leona, considering the difficulty she herself encountered as a young student challenged to "make ends meet". Leona and her second husband Francis Mattison were both active in the local gem and mineral society. Together they traveled all over the world in pursuit of their interest in natural history and adventure. As a life long Episcopalian she was a member of both All Saints Church in Richland and St. Paul's in Kennewick. Though she was active in a number of other organizations, her most memorable accomplishments outside of her professional ones, had to do with her almost continuous interest in raising and exhibiting roses. Joining the Richland Rose Society now the Tri-City Rose Society in 1952, she surrounded their ranch house with roses and happily spent most of the rest of her life promoting the blessings of exhibiting roses, flower design and gardening in general. She was instrumental in the founding of the Garden of the Apostles at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Richland as well as the garden which now bears her name at Lawrence Scott Park in Kennewick. She served as founder of the Tri-City Rose Society newsletter, "The Rose Herald" and was its editor for over 20 years. For her outstanding contributions as a Consulting Rosarian and judge, she was granted the award of Outstanding Consulting Rosarian in 1981 and in 1986, the District Silver Medal by the Pacific Northwest District of the American Rose Society. Leona Mattison was a "take charge" woman who made a difference for all of us whose lives she touched.

She is survived by numerous friends throughout the Tri-Cities, many of them living at The Manor at Canyon Lakes in Kennewick. Life-long friends of all ages from other parts of the country, as well as some living abroad, were in contact with her even in these last months. In addition she is survived by her adopted son and daughter, Jim and Dorothy Campbell of West Richland; grandchildren Loren Campbell of Seattle and Keri and Andrew Hollenbeck also of Seattle. She was blessed with 3 great grandsons: Sam, Kyle and Lukas Hollenbeck and one great granddaughter, Anna Brehm of Richland. She was predeceased by both of her husbands, John Gus Ayres and Francis Mattison.