Former Boone County Judge Leslie Ann Schneider Passes Away
Leslie Ann Schneider, a former Boone County associate circuit judge, municipal judge, and family law attorney who spent decades serving the legal community in mid-Missouri, passed away peacefully at her home in Columbia on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, surrounded by her family, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported.
Right before she passed away, the sky cleared as the sun emerged, revealing a bright rainbow overhead.
Early Life in Iowa and Lifelong Passion for Literature
Born in Ames, Iowa, on April 21, 1955, Leslie was the oldest of six children born to Clifford and Joan Mayberry. Her parents dedicated their careers to public service in Adair County, where her father worked as an attorney and prosecutor and her mother served as a public administrator. Following in those footsteps, Leslie built her own career around serving her community.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Missouri. Literature remained a lifelong pursuit. She set annual reading goals, kept detailed lists of every book she finished, and participated in several book clubs. She frequently asked friends and acquaintances what they were currently reading so she could hear their thoughts.
Legal Career and Judicial Service in Columbia
Leslie attended the University of Missouri School of Law. There, she met her husband, Tom—now a retired civil litigator—along with many lifelong friends and professional colleagues. After earning her law degree, she started her legal career as an assistant attorney general for the state of Missouri.
She later entered private practice and spent nine years serving as a municipal judge for the City of Columbia. In 1996, she joined the firm Harper, Evans, Schneider, and Netemeyer, leading its family law practice. Voters elected her as an associate circuit judge for Boone County in 2006. In that role, she presided over family law, juvenile, and adult abuse cases until her retirement in 2022.
At the 2022 Missouri Judicial Conference, the Missouri Supreme Court recognized her for outstanding service as an associate circuit judge. Colleagues commended the honesty, knowledge, integrity, and sophistication she displayed in her family law courtroom, alongside her profound compassion and dedication to all individuals before her—particularly children. Describing her own judicial style, she often called herself focused, direct, and disciplined.
Leslie Served on Numerous Legal Boards and Taught Law
Beyond her courtroom duties, Leslie maintained an active role in numerous legal and civic organizations. Her affiliations and board service included the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, Elwood Thomas Inn of Court, Reality House, Mid-Missouri Legal Services, Front Door, Women’s Law Association of Mid-Missouri, Family Law Subcommittee of the Missouri Bar Association, Missouri Human Rights Commission, the Family Court Committee, and the Committee on Access to Family Courts.
Future attorneys also benefited from her expertise when she served as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri School of Law, instructing aspiring lawyers in family law.
Family, Outdoor Adventures, and Hobbies
Away from the bench and the classroom, Leslie prioritized her family and personal interests. She was a frequent spectator—and cheerleader—at her children’s extracurricular activities, volunteered as a classroom room parent, and helped with homework and reading.
A skilled craftswoman, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting, quilting, sewing, and cross-stitching. She was also an avid outdoorswoman who spent hours biking, walking, and running on the MKT and Katy trails. She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with her son, hiked rim to rim across the Grand Canyon, and rafted the Colorado River.
Survivors and Memorial Arrangements
Leslie is survived by her husband, Tom; her daughter, Julia, and husband Blair; her son, Scott, and wife Sara; and her grandchildren, Reed, Isla, Lucas, and Felix, whose arrival is expected in late November 2026. She is also survived by her siblings, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Contributions in her memory may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Society of America, Heart of Missouri CASA, or the True North of Columbia women’s shelter. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, April 3, 2027, at a location to be announced.