Alice was born February 17, 1877, the daughter of John and Sallie Speak Johnson of St. Lawrence, Ky., one of nine children. At age 25, Alice entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. She received the Ursuline habit and the name Sister Mary Leo on October 21, 1902.
While in the novitiate, Sister Mary Leo prepared for teaching the primary grades. Her first assignment was St. Columba School in Louisville where she taught three years. Following this assignment, she taught St. Peter School in Waverly, Ky., for six years and St. Anthony School in Jeffersonville, Ind., for six years. Sister was appointed director of novices in 1922 for seven years. Other school assignments included: St. Francis, Hartington in Nebraska, back to Jeffersonville in Indiana in 1936 until the flood, Knottsville (1937-46), Waverly (1946-1947) and Knottsville, Ky., (1947-54).
Sister Mary Leo retired in 1954 and came back to Mount Saint Joseph. She spent 15 years in peaceful retirement, but suffered inevitable diminishment of mind and body during that time. At age 92, death came quickly and quietly on September 12, 1969. Msgr. Albert Thompson celebrated her funeral Mass on September 14. Seven other priests were present in the sanctuary. Sister Mary Leo’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.