Jessica Leary

Jessica Leary 1944 - 2024 On April 13, 2024, Jessica Leary passed quietly from this life to the next shortly after her 80th birthday. She left behind a legacy of independence, curiosity, competence, and compassion. She was a proper lady having good manners, a positive attitude, and respect for others. Jessica was born in rural Bexar County in Texas outside San Antonio in the spring of 1944 to Belen Galindo Casias, Ambrisio Guzman Casias, and her older sister Clementina. The family’s outdoor cats soon became recipients of Jessica’s affection. Throughout her life, she had many indoor, feline companions with Anne Elizabeth (Girl Kitty) being her last. Though talented in English, Jessica had a special dislike for algebra. Outside of the classroom, she participated in Future Homemakers of America for four years and played clarinet for six years. Track was where her talent truly sparkled. She specialized in the 50 yard dash and the 100 yard dash for six years. By age thirteen, Jessica was the fastest girl on her team winning many blue ribbons as an individual and as a teammate on the relays. She graduated from Somerset High School in 1962. Though uncertain what to do with her future after high school, Jessica excelled in her post-secondary education. She earned an Associate in Arts from San Antonio College in 1965; a Bachelor of Science in English and Elementary Education from Texas A & I Kingsville, TX in 1969; and a Master of Science in English and Educational Supervision in 1975 also from Texas A & I. She taught primary grades in Texas during and after her time in college and university. After receiving her degrees, Jessica and Edward Leary married and moved from Texas to northern Virginia six months later. They eventually found their way to Rio Rancho, NM. Jessica had a varied career. She worked as a freelance writer from 1984 until after her retirement. She taught at the International Business College for five years and worked from the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board for three years. For ten years, she was the administrative assistant to the Neurosurgery Division Chief at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. After Edward’s death in 1992, Jessica moved to Albuquerque to be closer to her work at UNM. She worked for UNM for nearly twenty years until she retired in 2010 most recently as editor for the Law Journal. Jessica took up ballroom dancing shortly after her husband’s death and continued to be involved for the remainder of her life. She became an active member of the Albuquerque Swing and Country Dance Club in 1999, attending their Winter Ball less than three months before her death. Dancing made her feel pretty and alive. She loved the challenge of continuing to learn new skills. She also took several classes from UNM Continuing Ed including writing classes. Writing was one of her life long interests. She was an active participant in whatever interested her. She sat on boards and councils, participated in teams, and developed instructional manuals. Jessica is preceded in death by her mother Belen, father Ambrisio, husband Edward, and sister Clementina. Jessica is survived by Anita McBride of Albuquerque, NM, a fellow dancer, artist, and educational instructor; Consuelo “Chelo” Martinez, her inseparable childhood friend of Winthrop, MA; and Shawkeet “Chip” Hindi of Albuquerque, NM, a ballroom dance instructor who became a trusted friend; as well as many other valued friends. On March 6, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of metastatic bile duct cancer. She spent her last month on this earth with Roxanne and John Carpenter and their cat, Molly, at their house in Edgewood, NM. She was comfortable and cared for and experienced little pain. She enjoyed occasional outings while she was able, watched the news and basketball games, read the New York Times and Albuquerque Journal and received only the best of care from the team members at Presbyterian Hospice. She was a delightful and gracious guest. Per Jessica’s request, there will be no memorial service. Her cremains will be interred at Mountain Valley Cemetery in Edgewood, NM. You are invited to make a donation to the Animal Humane Society in Jessica’s memory.