Mary Leo passed from this world and into the arms of Jesus on September 21, 2024. Mary Alice Sammann was born on April 24, 1931, in Floydada, Texas. She grew up in West Texas. She married Reinhart H. Leo, an Air Force jet pilot and professional engineer. Within a short time, they had three children. After a series of service and work-related moves, they settled in Huntsville.
Mary quickly became a highly successful realtor, founding and running The Leo Agency which grew to be the largest real estate broker in North Alabama. She was an icon in the Huntsville business community. The Leo Agency red lion and her distinctive visage were ubiquitous in Huntsville. She instructed and mentored hundreds of realtors. She loved Huntsville and its citizens, and they reciprocated. She contributed to countless community organizations. She served as the Chairman of the North Alabama Chamber of Commerce, President of the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama, Member of the Board of Trustees of Huntsville Hospital, Vice-President of the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors, Director of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Director of the Huntsville Ballet Company, Trustee of the Huntsville Museum of Art, among other organizations. She was a long-time and faithful member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
Mary was predeceased by her husband, Reinhart. She is survived by her children, Jada (Nicole), Karl (Fay), and Toni (Susan). Mary has seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her loving partner, Bob Orand.
Visitation for the friends and family of Mary will take place on Wednesday, September 25, from noon to 2 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 200 Longwood Drive SE, Huntsville AL 35801. A church service will follow at 2:00 p.m. She will be buried in a private ceremony at Maple Hill Cemetery after the service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a tax-deductible gift to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at https://www.stmarkshsv.org/ or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org.
