Leonard Leary Services: 5:30 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church in Portales Leonard Leary, 66, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, at Plains Regional Medical Center. He was born March 7, 1939, in Reading, Mass., to Marcella and Philip F. Leary. Mr. Leary graduated from high school in Reading in 1956. He moved to Portales in 1962 to attend Eastern New Mexico University. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications in 1967. He completed his master’s degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1969, and returned to Portales to become a communications professor at Eastern New Mexico University. During the ensuing years he had pursued doctoral studies at both the University of Oklahoma and the University of New Mexico. He retired as professor emeritus in communications in 2004. Family members said he was an excellent golfer, and avidly played as long as his health would permit. He also enjoyed a perfectly manicured lawn, and his yard had been named as “Lawn of the Month” on several occasions. He enjoyed reading, especially suspense novels and crime stories. He was preceded in death by both of his parents. He is survived by one son, Daniel Leary of New York; one daughter Minda McCall (and husband Shawn) of Rio Rancho; one sister, Maureen Braymiller of Reading, Mass., and his close friends, Gracy Leary of Portales and Dan Clark of San Diego, Calif. Rev. Clyde Davis will officiate services. Memorial contributions may be made to The Friends of Eastern, ENMU, Portales, NM 88130. Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary. Marie Overton Services: 1 p.m. Thursday at Portales Cemetery. Marie Overton, 78, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, at her daughter’s home in Capitan. She was born Sept. 30, 1927, in Roaring Springs, Texas, to Pearl and Perry McWilliams. She spent her early years in Sudan, Texas, where she played softball and basketball. As a teenager, she moved to Portales. She graduated from high school in 1943, and was a majorette for the Portales High School Band. In 1944, she married Ed Overton. They lived in Portales for several years. In the mid 1950s they moved to Carlsbad. In about 1973, they moved to Clovis. She remained there until 2002 when her health forced her to move to her daughter’s home in Capitan. She was a member of the Church of Christ. She enjoyed quilting and fishing. She was an avid sports fan, and prided herself on her knowledge about numerous sports and various teams. Family members said she was an avid fan of the Duke University basketball team. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her husband, who died July 4, 1994. She is survived by two daughters, Pat LaRue (and husband Darrell) of Clovis and Linda Cox (Terry) of Capitan; three grandchildren, Kim Maddox of Colorado Springs, Colo., Trevor Cox of Capitan and Heather LaRue of Clovis; three great-grandchildren, Austin Maddox, Kaylee Marie Maddox and Cori Cox; and one brother, Jim Tom McWilliams (Sue) of Amarillo. Scott P. Reeves will officiate services. All family members will serve as honorary pallbearers. Memorial contributions may be made to Presbyterian Medical Services, Home Health and Hospice–Ruidoso, 147 Mescalero Trail, Ruidoso, N.M. 88345. Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary. Susie Hough Services: 2 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church in Melrose Susie Hough, 96, of Melrose died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2006, at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis. She was born May 12, 1909, in Haskell County, Texas, to James R. and Ollie Hill. She sold insurance, collected bills for the Rural Electric Company, operated the local motor vehicle office and was a notary public. The family jokingly called her “Mrs. Melrose.” She was an avid gardener and enjoyed canning and freezing fruits and vegetables from her garden. She was active in First United Methodist Church and Melrose Women’s Club. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Wesley Huffman in 1957, A. C. White in 1963, and Edgar Hough in 2001; six brothers, Charlie, Homer, John, Joe, Tom, and Jake Hill; two sisters, Lillie Fletcher and Alpha Jackson; and a stepson, Jessie Hough. She is survived by one sister, Dollie Wall of Los Angeles; seven nieces, Willie Mae Blocker of Lawndale, Calif., Helen Grace Torbette of Torrance, Calif., Jewell Hill of Melrose, Sue Murray of Malakoff, Texas, Joretha Hall of Santa Fe, Sandra Grady of Norman, Okla., and Shirley Jones of Ashuelot, N H.; seven nephews, Charlie Hill of Fallon, Nev., Bill Hill of Alpine, Texas, Homer A. Hill of Dimmitt, Texas, Jimmie Fletcher of Bodfish, Calif., John Fletcher of La Palma, Calif., Gilmore Hill of Fort Lupton, Colo., and Jack Jackson of Boulder, Colo.; two stepdaughters, Melba Williams and Maureen Gibbs both of Clovis; step-grandchildren, Rebecca McDonald, Michelle Williams, and Douglas Gibbs; and eight great-great-grandchildren Burial is at Melrose Cemetery. Rev. Danny Sanders will officiate. Pallbearers are Grady Bright, Dennis Dodd, Deon Dodd, Johnny Lay, Jim Lay, Gordon Morris, and Hank Jordan. Honorary pallbearers are her nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions be made to First United Methodist Church in Melrose or Melrose Cemetery. Arrangements are by Steed-Todd Funeral Home. Billie S. Gray Services: 2 p.m. Thursday at the Lynch Chapel, Greenville, Texas. Billie S. Gray, 48, of Leonard, Texas, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2006, at her home. She was born June 9, 1957, in Portales. She was a business owner with her husband for 10 years in entertainment equipment sales. She also served in the United States Army. She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Gray of Leonard; her children, Rebecca Fagan (and husband Brett) of Leonard, Steven Gasowski (Rachel) of Fort Benning, Ga., Dortha Gasowski-west (Jacob) of Denison, Texas, Virginia Thraen (Scott) of Des Moines, Iowa and Robert Gray of Leonard; her mother, Dortha Kilmer of Melrose and her siblings Richard Kilmer, Joann Morris Winch (Roger), Tommy Franks (Beth), Dallas Draper (Jack), Neal Franks, David Brown, Betty Hoskins, Melba Holloway (Gary), Shirley Miller and Dorothy Emery (Rick). Randy Rather will officiate services. Arrangements are by Lynch Funeral Service.