Leah Field Longoria

Leah Field Longoria passed away at her home on August 20, 2017 after a long illness. “Beba”, as she was known by her family, was born on July 24, 1917 in Brownsville Texas. She attended Villa Maria High School; a private school run by the Sisters of Incarnate Word where she was awarded a four year piano scholarship. Miss Longoria played in many local concerts and events. She enjoyed a busy social life with many friends in Brownsville, appearing in numerous newspaper articles reporting her myriad of activities. Leah and her mother moved to Laredo in the 1950s, and Leah began her career in 1953 in Civil Service as the Information Specialist at Laredo Air Force Base. She reported for the weekly LAFB newsletter, “Que Paso”. Leah was known for her descriptions of all important activities at the Base and in Laredo society. The Laredo Times "Periscope" described her as "the sharped eyed information officer with a camera." The Laredo Times published an article "Somos Cinco" in which Leah was highlighted as being one of the top five female civil service employees at the Laredo Air Force Base. After her retirement, she began her position with the International Bank of Commerce in the Public Relations field. She was known for hosting many events for the Bank locally, and in other areas, including Mexico. Leah's main love was playing bridge. She spent many hours around a bridge table with friends at the Laredo Country Club, and was invited to other cities to play at hostesses' homes or private clubs. In 1994 she completed the American Contract Bridge League Teacher Accreditation Program. She won many Bridge tournaments and in July 1998 received a plaque from the American Contract Bridge League as a Bronze Life Master in recognition of outstanding achievement in Bridge competition. This was a unique title as there were only two Life Masters in Laredo at the time. A Brownsville cousin, Linda Longoria-Neff grew up with Leah and describes her "older cousin" as someone to whom the younger girls could aspire. Mrs. Longoria-Neff remembers Leah as "elegant, glamorous, pretty, vivacious, well-dressed and someone who could talk of many adventures." She is preceded in death by her parents, Leah Field Longoria and Antonio Longoria; two brothers, Dr. Enrique Martin Longoria and Dr. George Longoria. She is survived by her sister, Amelia Longoria Champion, 105 years old from Brownsville. She had 13 nieces and nephews; Dennis Antonio (Bertha) Longoria, Deanna Longoria (Edmundo) Ramirez, David N. (Betsi) Longoria, Carlos J. (Kandace) Longoria, Mary Kathryn Longoria, Mary Louise (Guillermo) Cavazos, Bette (Paul) Prevost, Cristina L. Swisher, George Longoria, Jr., Robert (Ana) Longoria +, Dr. Richard P. (Gayle) Longoria, Francisco (Geralyn) Longoria, and Patricia Champion Widener. She had numerous grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. A chapel service will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the Hillside Funeral Home Chapel, with Msgr. James Harris officiating. A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at Old City Cemetery, 955 East 5th Street, Brownsville, Texas, 78520 at 4:30 p.m. Pallbearers will be, Dennis Antonio Longoria, David Noel Longoria, Carlos Joseph Longoria, George Longoria Jr., Dr. Richard Paul Longoria, and Francisco Alberto Longoria. If you would like to sign the guestbook or send private condolences, you may do so at www.hillsidefuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Hillside Funeral Home, 310 Hillside Road.