Mary Augusta Leighton

Mary Augusta Leighton October 14, 1930 – July 22, 2026 Mary Augusta Leighton of Willcox passed away in Safford, Wednesday night July 22, 2026. She was 95 years old. She was born October 14, 1930, in Portland, Maine, to Lewis C Hatch and Ada Hatch. When she was 6 years old, she began her education at a private Quaker School for girls and continued all the way through the 6th grade. She graduated from Deering High School in 1949. While living in Porland she met and married her eternal companion, Charles Wm Leighton, Jr. They were married October 7, 1950. They moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1960. In 1964 she was baptized, along with her family, into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints while living in Apache Junction. In 1970 they moved to Willcox where she fell in love with the community and the local history. She founded many organizations and preserved much of the history. In 1974 she founded the Sulphur Springs Valley Historical Society. In May of 1986 she received the Governor’s Award for Historical Preservation. In 1989 she founded the Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum, and in 1996 she and her husband founded the Charles Wm Leighton, Jr Hospice, to name only a few. Mary is survived by her three children, Susan Gardner (Vergene), Diane Truschke (Gary), and Charles Wm Leighton, III (Francis). She is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband, Charles Wm Leighton, Jr, her parents Lewis and Ada Hatch, two brothers Lewis Hatch and Phillip Hatch, and a sister Marjorie Hatch-Edmiston. Mary will be remembered for her love of family, church, and community. She was kind, gracious, funny, and would do anything to help anyone in need. She was a sweet soul that will be dearly missed. Funeral services will be 10:00 am on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Westlawn Chapel, with viewing beginning at 9:00 am. Burial will follow in Sunset Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 900 South Encanto Street in Willcox. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Charles Wm Leighton, Jr. Hospice, located in Willcox.

Mary Augusta Leighton

October 14, 1930 - July 22, 2026