Person:Neva Robbins (1)

Longmount Ledger, Friday, Feb 28, 1919

Married Leonard - Robbins: At the home of Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Muir, in Longmont, Friday afternoon, Feb 21, 1919, Robert J. Leonard and Miss Neva R. Robbins both of Longmont, Rev. Monroe Markley officiating.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Muir was beautifully decorated with flowers. Seven guests were present at the ring ceremony that bound the young couple for life: Mr. and Mrs. O.B. Robbins, Leon Robbins, Mr. and Mrs. E.L Muir, and the Misses Florence Wright and Lelia Taylor of Longmont.

After the ceremony, Mrs. Muir served an elegant wedding supper.

The bride is well known especially in circles where flowers are loved, for she was connected with the Robbins Floral Shop of Longmont, and has made many friends by her winning personality.

Robert J. Leonard is a graduate of the High of Fort Collins and a member of the Sigma Delta club of the Agricultural College. He came to Longmont from Scottsbluff, Neb., where his parents reside and is now assistant chemist at the Longmont sugar factory.

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard left after the supper for Denver to spend a few days honeymoon. Their home will be Longmont, where Mrs. Leonard will still have charge of the floral shop

Obit found in Longmont Colorado Daily Times-Call, 16 June 1975, Monday, Page 3 Services for Neva Leonard, Civic Leader, Are Wednesday

Neva R. Leonard, founder of Robbins Floral Shop and longtime local civic leader, died Sunday, June 15, in Loveland Memorial Hospital after six months of failing health. She was 78.

Mrs. Leonard was active in a number of local groups and her favorite avocation was sewing clothes for needy children.

Born Neva Ione Robbins in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Aug. 28, 1896, she came to Loveland in 1906 and Longmont in 1917. She also lived in Fort Collins for four years.

She was married to Robert J. Leonard in Longmont on Feb. 21, 1919 and they began the Robbins Floral Shop on Fourth Avenue. The shop was built at its present location in 1922.

Mrs. Leonard's many activities included the JAO Club, Fortnightly Club, Wednesday Music Club, Hill Top Guild of Allenspark and Columbine Chapter of the Easter Star. She was also past president of the Longmont Writer's Club and a member of the sewing guild of Central Presbyterian Church.

She devoted many hours to sewing clothes for needy children and once said, "To make a pretty little dress out of scraps gives me a big thrill. It's a challenge to me to make something out of nothing." In later years she assisted with the operation of the Highlands Camp of the Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include two sons, Allan Duane Leonard, of Longmont and Edward Vance Leonard, of Albuquerqu, N.M.; two daughters, Mrs. David (Vivian) Fausset, of Longmont and Mrs. Herm (Deborah) Ball, of Durango; five brothers, Leon Robbins, of Capitol Heights, Md., Allen Robbins, of Laramie, Wyo., Robert Robbins, of Loveland, Gilbert Robbins, of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Richard Robbins, of Fort Collins; two sisters, Mrs. Helen Hicks of Loveland and Mrs. Aileen Skinner, of Baker, Ore., 12 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Her husband preceded her in death in 1974.

Services will be held Wednesday morning at Central Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. Revs. Stanley Goerner and Russell Chandler will officiate. Internment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Friends may call at Ahlberg Chapel Tuesday until 10 p.m.

Found in Longmont Colorado Daily Times-Call, 21 Feb 1969, Page 9 Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Leonard Will Celebrate 50th Anniversary Sunday

Callahan House will be the scene Sunday for the Golden wedding anniversary celebration honoring Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Leonard. Hours for the open house are slated from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Friends will be greeted by the honored couple and their children.

The Leonards are well known in the St. Vrain Valley, married in Longmont Feb. 21, 1919 at the home of Faye Muir McCullah at 733 Kimbark St. The late Rev. Monroe Markley officiated at the ceremony, followed by a train trip and two days in Denver for the honeymoon.

Robbins Flower Shop

They returned to Longmont to resume the business that had been started previously by Mrs. Leonard, then Neva R. Robbins. At that time Robbins Flower Shop was located next to the fire station on Fourth Avenue. Shortly thereafter, the late O.B. Robbins, father of Neva, and Bob built the present shop and greenhouse range.

Leonard then resigned this position as a chemist with the Great Western Sugar Company, to become a full-fledged and successful florist. They started housekeeping in the bungalow that served dual purpose as home and flower shop.

During their married life they built a home on Collyer Street, and later purchased the large house next to the flower shop, which has been their home for the past 30 years.

Four Children

Bob and Neva have four children. Duane Leonard is an instructor at the Colorado Aero School at the Jefferson County Airport; Debbis is married to Herm Ball, who is with the forestry services and based presently in Denver; Vance Leonard is in the furniture department of the Montgomery Ward Store in Alburquerque, N.M.; and Vivian Shelton now operates the flower shop. There are five grandsons and six granddaughters.

Until coming to Longmont, Leonard lived in Fort Collins. He attended high school and college there, majoring in music. Through the years, he has maintained this interest, singing in the church choir, as songleader for the Lions Club, quartet singing and a member of the Barbershoppers.

He is a charter member and past president of the Longmont Lions Club; a past master of the Masonic Lodge No. 23; a past patron of the Eastern Star and an active member of the Central Presbyterian Church.

Came to Longmont

Neva Leonard was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., and came to Colorado with her family. They settled in Fort Collins and later moved to Loveland.

She came to Longmont to open the flower shop and later to marry. She is also very active in the Central Presbyterian church; the Sewing Guild; Fortnightly Club; a past president of the Longmont Writer's club, the J.A.O. club, and an active member of the Hilltop Guild.

After retiring, the Leonard's interest was captured by the Presbyterian Highlands Camp located near Allenspark. For four years they served as resident manager for the camp, and Leonard has been its treasurer for the last 15 years.

Their summers are now spent near Allenspark at their summer home, "Hi! On A Windy Hill!" About the past 50 years they remark, "We have been blessed with wonderful children, good health and much happiness. We cherish our precious friends and still enjoy living in the greatest little city in the state."

1. ↑ Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).
2.   Newspaper article transcribed by Jerry Gross.

   See note of Oscar Burton Robbins.

3.   Robbins, Oscar Burton. History of the Jackson family of Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y., Ohio and Indiana: descendants of Robert and Agnes Washburn Jackson. (Loveland, Colo.: Robbins, 1951)
   174,176.