Her father, Leon M. Tyler was an accountant and house restoration contractor and her mother, Bessie J.
After graduating she taught English and other subjects in junior high schools in Minnesota and Michigan.
A major research finding was that, as people thought about careers, dislikes and avoidances were more important than likes.
She developed the Choice Pattern Technique, that required people to indicate their construals of occupations and free-time activities.
Her research was extended to India and Australia and expanded to take in values, daily activities, and future time-perspectives in adolescents.
This suggested perceptions of choices for scientific inquiry are distorted or limited by professional education and discipline based on conformity.
Leona died on April 29, 1993, at the age of 86, in Eugene, Oregon because of congestive heart failure after a series of illnesses and accidents.