Mary Elizabeth Leone

OJAI, Calif. - Mary Leone died peacefully at the age of 91 on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005, at her daughter's home in Ojai. She was born in Denison, Texas, on Jan. 27, 1914, to Walter Murrin and Etta Cross Murrin. At the age of 17, she moved to Billings where she met her husband, former Billings Mayor Joseph A. Leone. They made their home in the house built by Joe's parents at 2511 Second Ave. S. Two children were added to the family there, a daughter, Marlene (Leone) Lattimer, and a son, Richard (Leone) Bevacqua. Mary lived with Joe for almost 53 years, until his death in 1985.
One of her earliest employers was the old Vaughn Ragsdale store on South 27th Street. She became a well-known personality in South Billings, working for many years as a clerk at Ricker's Pharmacy on South 27th Street. She was a fixture in this business, even as it was sold to many different owners.
Mary was a member of the Church of The Little Flower as well as the Catholic Daughters of America. For many years she was involved in Democratic political activities and remained an avid supporter even when her health prevented her from any personal involvement.
One of the highlights of her life was the time she spent as "First Lady" of Billings. She enjoyed hosting parties and accompanying her husband the mayor to official functions in and around Billings. She was known as a happy and gracious hostess.
Mary remained active as a widow, maintaining the large family property by herself. She was especially fond of gardening and spent many hours happily tending to her plants and lawn. Eventually, her health began to fail and she had to cut back on her yard work. At her daughter's invitation, she moved to Ojai in 2000. For the last five years of her life, she enjoyed the company of Marlene and her husband Wayne as well as her son "Dick" who lives nearby in Oxnard, Calif. She also attended church in Ojai and made many friends among the parishioners at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
Because her daughter-in-law, Donna Bevacqua, is afflicted with Alzheimer's disease, Mary became a donor to the Alzheimer's Association and worked for donations to the California Central Coast Chapter. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in Mary's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 1339 Del Norte Road, Camarillo, CA 93010. The Livingston Memorial Hospice provided much support to the family in Mary's last days, so donations may also be made to them at 1996 Eastman Avenue, Suite 101, Ventura, CA 93003.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Joseph Leone, and her grandson, Mark Lattimer. She is survived by a brother, Arthur (Nannette) Murrin of Houston, Texas; daughter, Marlene (Wayne) Lattimer; son, Dick (Donna) Bevacqua; grandson, David Lattimer; granddaughter, Liz (Uiki) Lattimer Niko; great-grandsons, David and Robert Lattimer; great-granddaughter, Alexa Niko; step-great-grandson Taylor Foreman-Niko; and many nieces and nephews.
Vigil services will be 7 p.m. Thursday at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Friday at Church of the Little Flower with Rite of Committal at Holy Cross Cemetery.