Eva (McDowell) Leigh

Graveside services for Eva Leigh, 87, of Nacogdoches will be held at 2:00 pm on April 3, 2022, at Blackjack Cemetery. 

Eva Lucille McDowell Leigh entered her Heavenly Home on March 28, 2022, in Nacogdoches, Texas. She was born on October 5, 1934, in Pratt, Kansas, and subsequently was raised in Coldwater, Kansas where she graduated from high school.

Eva met her late husband, James Leigh, while she was working at a restaurant in Coldwater. They fell in love swiftly and were married on August 13, 1951, spending 48 years raising children and creating everlasting memories. Eva’s most proud accomplishment was having raised five children and numerous grandchildren; teaching them the lyrics to all the children’s songs she knew (which was many) and gaining the name “Pecos Grandma”. Eva lived in Pecos, Texas from 1963 to 2015, when she returned to be near her daughters. Her love for children went beyond those of her own. She taught Bluebird Girls (a branch of Girl Scouts) for some time and was an avid Sunday School attendee.

Eva often attended Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Etoile. She always welcomed strangers with a smile, emanating God’s love to all who had the honor of meeting her. If Eva knew you, she loved you wholeheartedly and with all that she was. Spending time in the company of her friends and family were among the things she most adored. She also enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with friends, drinking coffee, and loving on animals of all kinds. and when she had time, her favorite hobbies included sewing and quilting, as well as arts and crafts of any kind.

Eva is remembered as being the best mom and grandma you could ever wish for. In honor of the old saying, “it takes a village”, she had a hand in raising many children that she loved as her own.

Eva is preceded in death by her husband, James Rex Leigh; sons, Ronald Keith Leigh and Robert Dewayne Leigh; mother, Lee Hecht and husband, Earnest; twin siblings, Robert Dean McDowell and Norma Jean McDowell McGuire; granddaughter, Lisa Marie Cramer; and grandsons, Ronald Keith Leigh and Travis Stepp.

Eva is survived by her daughters, Terresa Clary and husband, Randy or Blackjack, TX, Jeannie Teichman and husband, Buddy of Cushing, TX, and Vera Williams or Pecos, TX; nieces, Patricia Usery of San Angelo, TX, Sharon Matthews of San Angelo, TX, Melissa McGuire of Coldwater, KS, and Loretta Heft of Coldwater, KS; nephews, Curtis McGuire and Fred Matthews of Houston, TX; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Mandy Leigh of Pecos, TX, Terra Simmons and husband, Blake of Nacogdoches, TX, Judy Sanchez and husband, Isreal of San Antonio, TX, James Clary and Keith of Blackjack, TX, Debbie Clary and husband, Timothy of Nacogdoches, TX, Wayne Clary of Nacogdoches, TX, Ashton Clary of Nacogdoches, TX, Shellie Teichman Martin of Cushing, TX, Buddy Teichman III and wife, Dena of Rusk, TX, Chelsea Arellano and husband, Joe of Richmond, TX, Jamie Duran of Frankston, TX, Steven Duran of Rusk, TX, Buddy Teichman IV, Rusk, TX, Brylee Teichman of Rusk, TX, Leah Teichman of Rusk, TX, Carmindy Arellano, Roxy Arrellano, and Joey Arrellano of Richmond, TX, Jessie Williams and Tina Williams of Pecos, TX, Lara Green of New Mexico, Starr McEwen of Pecos, TX, Shawna Heart of Midland, TX, Richard Green, Amber Green, Cody Green, and Damion Green of Albuquerque, NM, Angela Leigh and James Leigh of Pecos, TX, Mark Castleberry of Pecos, TX, Julie Salazar and husband, Roger of Pecos, TX, Dillon Step of Pecos, TX, Mark Castleberry and Lewis of Odessa, TX, Audree Green of Stamford, TX, Ava Simmons of Nacogdoches, TX, Eli Clary of Nacogdoches, TX, Makayla Blake and Leah Blake of Midland, TX.

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