Elnora Seifferlein Leyes was born on January 24, 1921 in New Buffalo, Michigan. She received a business degree from South Bend College of Commerce and was a Army Air Force civil service secretary during World War II. Richard Leyes was born on May 25, 1917 in South Bend, Indiana. He was sergeant and aerial engineer in the 3rd Air Force, Army Air Force during World War II. Elnora and Richard Leyes married on December 17, 1943. After the war Elnora and Richard attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University). Elnora majored in floriculture and graduated in 1948 with a B.S. degree. Richard majored in nursery and landscape management and graduated in 1948. After graduating they attended Bright's School of Floral Design in Chicago. In 1949, Richard was hired as a manager at Janesville Floral Company in Janesville, Wisconsin and Elnora was hired as a floral designer. In 1951 the Leyes' bought Janesville Floral Company. They also opened a second floral business, Leyes Lakeland Florist, in Delavan, Wisconsin in the 1950s. They were both active in the community and floral profession. In 2010 Elnora Leyes earned the FTD Lifetime Achievement Award. Richard Leyes passed away on October 14, 2006.