Marie Teresa Leach

Marie’s paternal grandparents were Charles (Charley) Guerrieri and his wife Maria Teresa Veltri Guerrieri, and maternal grandparents were Anthony (Tony) Perri and his wife Maria Teresa Potestio Perri. All of her grandparents came from Grimaldi, Calabria in southern Italy.

Marie was married to Carl Lee Leach for 58 years, until his death in August, 2016. She is survived by their four children, Melissa Robertson and husband Keith, Bradley Leach and his wife Tracee, Melanie Leach and her partner Bill Stanley, and Michelle Leach. Additionally, Marie has four grandchildren: Anthony Robertson and his wife Addison, Lauren Pritchett and her husband Daniel, Erin Dyer and her husband Ryan, and Sydney Leach and her partner Mike Smith. Her great grandchildren from oldest to youngest are: Carleigh Pritchett, David Robertson, Mariyah Smith, James Robertson and Adeline Marie Robertson. Also, still living is her younger brother Charles “Chuck” Guerrieri and his wife Kris. Her youngest brother, Albert Guerrieri, preceded her in death. Marie also has many beloved cousins, nephews and nieces.

Marie went to grade school in Crested Butte, Colorado for a couple of years, then to Grants, New Mexico before returning to Gunnison, Colorado for her remaining grade school years. She graduated from Gunnison County High School in 1952. She continued on to State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado. She graduated with a teaching degree in 1956. Marie did her student teaching in Pueblo, and after that, taught school in Boone, Colorado. That next summer she was employed at the “W” Café in Gunnison, where she met the love of her life, Carl. They were married in Pueblo at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cardinal. Mrs. Cardinal was a cousin of Marie. Their first few months of marriage, they lived in a tiny cabin in Powderhorn, Colorado – a small town between Lake City and Gunnison, where Carl was finishing his Masters in Geology.

Marie was involved in the Churches she and Carl attended, working in accounting and mothers-day-out programs. Over the years, she spent many hours volunteering at Breckenridge Village in Tyler, TX. She also volunteered to help children learn to read at near-by schools, in her later years. Her hobbies included cooking, family vacations, reading, and games including Bingo, Mahjong, and Chicken Foot. Her favorite TV shows included Hallmark Movies, Shark Tank, Wheel of Fortune, Ninja Warriors and any kind of Sport. She also enjoyed taking trips to Israel, Alaska, Panama and Canada. She visited many sites in the US while taking RV-ing excursions with Carl and their friends.

She will be remembered for her spunky Italian personality, her generosity toward others, her love of God and her cooking – especially her famous lasagna!!

A memorial service will be held in her honor at Brookside Funeral Home – Cypress Creek 10:30 am on Saturday, March 23rd The address is 9149 Hwy 6 N in Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Breckenridge Village, Marie’s favorite charity.

Breckenridge Village, 15062 CR 1145, Tyler, Texas, 75704 Website: Breckenridgevillage.com