Leroy William Creek

Farmington
Leroy W. Creek
Feb. 24, 1928 - June 5, 2015
Leroy William Creek, 87, of Farmington and Ignacio, Colo., passed away peacefully on June 5, 2015, to be with his heavenly father and to be reunited with his love of his life Louise "Weesie" Creek. Family was at his side. Leroy was born Feb. 24, 1928, in Portales, to Martha "Mattie" Jane and Harvey Creek.
He attended High School in Portales. When he turned 18 he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served from 1946 to 1948 as a Medic. When Leroy returned home to Portales after serving in the Army, he furthered his education at ENMU in Portales. Leroy began his banking career at the First National Bank of Portales, in 1949.
In 1949, he met the love of his life Billie Louise Brown; they married April 6, 1950 in Clovis. The love story began. Leroy had bought a 1949 Chevy convertible which was his treasure; he sold the car so he and Louise could buy a home. They enjoyed living the simple life. Together they had two daughters, Judith Ann and Kathryn Louise. They were happily married for 63 years until Louise passed away on April 6, 2013.
The couple moved to Anthony, Texas, in 1955, where Leroy was offered a cashier's job for the Anthony State Bank. In 1958, Leroy was offered a job to be vice president of the First National Bank of Fabens, Texas, and eventually became president. Leroy furthered his banking education by attending Southwest Graduate School of Banking at SMU, Dallas, Texas, in 1965.
In 1970, Leroy and Louise decided to follow their dreams after having done some vacationing in the Southwestern corner of Colorado, they bought a small ranch in the Durango and Ignacio area (Oxford) of Colorado where they raised cattle and hay. Shortly after the move to Colorado he was asked to return to El Paso, Texas, to help organize and start the Border City Bank where he served as President for a brief time. Upon returning to the Durango, Colo. area, Leroy was employed with Burns National Bank, in 1972, as vice president. In 1975, he went to work for the First National Bank in Durango, Colo., where he also served and vice president, he was there until he retired in 1986. Leroy and Weesie owned the Oxford Store from 1976 until 1980. After retirement, Leroy did some contract work for Banks in Springer and Las Vegas, as well as a bank in Cortez, Colo.
Leroy was a wonderful and devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He had a gift of gab and there was never a stranger he hadn't met, he was a generous man. Leroy loved people and had genuine concern for them all. People loved Leroy the likeable guy. He lived life without complaint. He was truly Mr. Congeniality. Leroy helped many folks get their businesses off the ground. His banking ethics were based on good faith and a hand shake, today those folks still thank him. Leroy enjoyed his farm, spending time with family and adored his four granddaughters. Leroy became a great grandpa in May of 2014, to a great-granddaughter. Leroy was destined to have nothing but little ladies in his life. He enjoyed his coffee breaks sitting around the kitchen table. In his earlier years, Leroy was a member of the Lions Club. He and his wife enjoyed attending craft shows around the four corners area. He enjoyed wood working where he made candle holders, picture frames and bowls. He enjoyed playing golf, fishing, hunting even snowmobiling. He was an avid sports fan and a devout Dallas Cowboy fan. Leroy enjoyed tinkering with his Triumph Spitfire; he also enjoyed watching his DVD movies in the comfort of his own home. He loved a good western; among his favorites were The Alamo and Giant and of course any movie with John Wayne. After 43 years on their farm in Colorado he and his wife Louise moved to Farmington in February 2013, to be closer to family. For all who knew and loved Leroy he will be deeply missed. He had a wonderful place in this world and he lived his life well. He loved his family and there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for them. Heaven has gained a wonderful angel. One thing about Leroy, he did it his way.
Leroy was preceded in death by wife Louise; his parents, Harvey and Martha Jane (Mattie) Creek (Kinney); step-father Elmer Kinney; three sisters; two brothers; four half-brothers; one half-sister; one stepbrother; and one stepsister.
Leroy is survived by his daughter Judy Christensen and husband Patrick of Farmington; granddaughter, Candace Reynolds and husband R.J. of Deer Park, Texas; and great-granddaughters, Victory Louise and Summer Reddell and husband Aaron of McKinney, Texas; sister-in-law Mary Creek of Carlsbad; brother-in-law Glen Brown and wife Antoinette of Tempe, Ariz.; numerous nieces and nephews, many friends and his church family.
Leroy was a member of the Pine River Valley Baptist Church in Ignacio. and was a true believer in his Lord and Savior. While residing in Farmington, Leroy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Farmington.
Cremation has taken place.
A memorial service for Leroy will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 20 at the Pine River Valley Baptist Church, 11942 Highway 172 in Ignacio.
Inurnment will follow at the Pine River Cemetery, Highway 172, in Bayfield.
Honorary pallbearers are Pat Christensen, Joe Elledge, RJ Reynolds, Aaron Reddell, Jim Sheppard, Harold Welage and Art Gresh.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 629, Portales, NM 88130
Leroy's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St. in Farmington, 505-325-8688.