- Date Of Birth: December 4, 1920
- Date Of Death: December 31, 2017
- State: New Mexico
Leona Daphine Head (Mills) passed away on December 31st, 2017 at the Beehive Homes assisted living residence in Gallup, New Mexico. She was 97 years old. Leona was born to Barney and Frances Mills on December 4th, 1920 in Hamilton, TX. In 1922, she and her family came to New Mexico in a covered wagon, settling outside of Dexter. After graduating from Dexter High School, Leona completed a teaching certificate at Highlands University. Her first teaching assignment consisted of 50 first grade students in Wagon Mound, NM. Leona went on to finish a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in art at Eastern New Mexico University. She taught grades K-12, as well as college level art courses. She spent the majority of her teaching career and her final years in education, as the art teacher at Clovis High School. She loved teaching and she loved her students. She held a special place in her heart for students Bruce DeFoor, Dick Wimberly, Roger Bitnis, Chuck Glikus, and Michael Reynolds. Leona loved the arts. She was an accomplished artist and musician. Following her teaching career, she played the violin in a string quintet until she was 85 years of age.
Leona was preceded in death by her parents, Barney and Frances; sisters, Nadine Cogdill and Elsie Osweiler; brother, Barney Mills; husband, Allen Madison Head; daughter, Tyletha Leese; and son, Allen Dale Head. She is survived by her daughters Chere Gulledge and Sabrina Ezzell (Brad Vergien); her grandchildren, Lynne Schultz (Jeb), Kayree McConnell (Tim), Cassie McMillan, and John Montano (Corinna); her great-grandchildren Tawny Phillips (Patrick), Devon Montano, Kinley Nichols, MacKenzie McMillan, Britain McMillan and her great-great-grandaughter, Story Grace Hurley. She is also survived by cousins, nieces, and nephews that she loved dearly.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the Beehive Home staff. They showed true caring and compassion towards Leona every day and extended the same caring nature towards family when they needed it most.
