Nancy Leighton, age 77, died Sunday, January 19, 2014 at 12:30 a.m., unexpectedly from complications resulting from open-heart surgery.
Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 25th at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Rev. Jay Jones, pastor officiating. The family invites anyone to speak of what knowing Nancy meant to him or her at the service. In her words, “Praise the Lord that He sent me, when I most needed it, His love through all of my dear family and friends, His strength when the going was rough, His comfort when I was in anguish, His mercy and forgiveness when I was a wayward child and His joy when I felt His presence.” Arrangements are under the direction of Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton.
Nancy Anne (Luartes) Leighton was born in Camden, NJ on Feb. 19, 1936, to Anacleto Luartes and Myrtle (Wisner) Luartes. She married Roy Dean Leighton on December 3, 1955, and they lived in Clayton, NM for the majority of their 58-year union. Nancy was a vital member of the Clayton community through her work with the First United Methodist Church, Clayton Players, the local Emmaus community, New Mexico MainStreet Association representing Clayton, the Federated Women’s Club of Clayton, Leighton’s Gifts store from 1973 to 2001, and the Luna Movie Theater after 1985. She and her husband ran the theater until they sold it to the City of Clayton in partnership with Clayton MainStreet in June of 2009. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; Anacleto and Myrtle Luartes and two brothers; Robert Luartes and Richard Luartes.
SURVIVORS:
HUSBAND: Roy Dean Leighton of Clayton, New Mexico.
4 DAUGHTERS: Nancyanne Mock and her husband Paul of Clayton, New Mexico, Karen Wezwick and her husband Tom of Las Vegas, New Mexico, Deidre Nordel and her husband Steve of Torrance, California and Leana Graves and her husband Jim of Dayton, Tennessee.
1 SON: Roy Dean Leighton, Jr. and his wife Pam of Houston, Texas.
19 Grandchildren
10 Great-Grandchildren
2 SISTERS: Myrtle Meidt of Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Mary Lou Stefanko of Zionsville, Pennsylvania.
1 BROTHER: Anacleto Luartes of Phoenix, Arizona.
