Mary Marie Leach

1931 - 2010

Mary Marie Leach, 79, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and cousin, was called to the Lord on Oct. 1, 2010 to join her parents, and sister, Frances JoAnne Price.

Mary, a resident of Ventura, is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years, Donald Leach; beloved daughters, Cindi-Jo Lehman and husband Robert, Kimberly K. Leach, Lisa L. McGowan and husband Nathan; sons, Troy A. Leach and wife Lori, and Terrence K. Leach and wife Marisela; granddaughters, Amanda Garwood and husband Dewey, Christine Nicol and husband Adam, Laura Lehman, and Hillary Asbury; grandsons, Jared, Ryan and Eric McGowan; cousin, Kenneth K. Knott; great-granddaughters, Eleanor and Renee Garwood, and Zoe Nicol; niece, Janice Ellis and husband Ty; nephews, Michael Price, Bob Wilkinson and wife Lori, Richard Price and wife Georgia; grandnieces, Tarin Frost and husband Clint, and Stephanie and Crystal Price; grandnephews, Steven and Sterling Price; and great-niece, Hailey Frost.

Mary Leach, daughter of Joseph and Helen Rowe, was born on March 12, 1931 in Eureka, Calif. She attended Eureka High School graduating in 1948. She graduated from Humboldt State College in 1952 with a degree in Elementary Education. Mary began her career in teaching in the San Lorenzo School District in 1952. During her career, she also shared her teaching talents with the Eureka Unified, McKinleyville Union, San Juan Unified, and Ventura Unified School Districts in California and the military dependent schools on Okinawa.

On June 28, 1953, Mary and Don were married in Eureka, Calif., beginning their 57 year marriage. On Valentine's Day in 1957, Cindi-Jo, the first of their five children, was born in Eureka. On July 18, 1959, and Nov. 27, 1960, Kimberly and Lisa were born at Camp Kue, Okinawa. Troy was born on Jan. 4, 1963 in Downey, Calif., and Terry was born May 15, 1967 in Arcata, Calif. As their family grew, Mary and Don lived in Eureka, Quantico, Va., Okinawa, Lomita, Arcata, Mount Prospect, Ill., Orangevale, and have resided in Ventura since 1977.

Mary was a member of many service and volunteer organizations including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Fair Friends of Roses, National Fuchsia Society, and the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a 34 year volunteer at the Ventura County Fair, a volunteer librarian at the Family History Center, and a Cadet Leader for Girl Scouts of America. Mary was passionate about roses, and spent many hours lovingly caring for hundreds of plants in her home garden. She also served as Treasurer for the Fair Friends of Roses from the inception of the organization. This year as the organization's Fair Booth Chairman, she designed the Best of Show award winning educational display. We will hold you in our hearts forever dear wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother.

Visitation will take place 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Services will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, also at Ted Mayr Funeral Home. Burial will take place 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, at Ocean View Cemetery, Eureka, Calif. Condolences may be left at www.TedMayrFuneralHome.com.