Billy E. "Pete" Leech Sr

Amory- Billy “Pete” E. Leech, 75, died Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at his residence. Born in Smithville July 15, 1938, he was the only child of Eugene and Gertrude Cruber Leech. He married Joyce Willene Stevens in 1957.

A 1956 graduate of Smithville High School, he furthered his education at IJC and Mississippi State University, doing his undergraduate studies in Agriculture Education and receiving his Masters Degree in Industrial Education. He was a member of St. Andrews Methodist Church in Amory, Smithville Methodist Church as a child and Alta Woods Methodist Church while he resided in Jackson, MS; he was also a member of the Smithville Masonic Lodge and MSU Bulldog Club. His affection for education allowed him to teach Ag Science at Smithville High School and work with the Mississippi Department of Vocational Education. For the past 36 years he co-owned and operated Leech Real Estate in Jackson and Amory. He formerly served as a Mississippi Real Estate Commissioner and as President of the Jackson Association of Realtors. Bill was passionate about his hometown of Smithville, MSU, and his great state of Mississippi, serving in the Army National Guard. He found joy in story telling with his great sense of humor, talking with his many friends, MSU sports, spending time with his family and being in the outdoors, fishing and enjoying all nature had to offer.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Willene Leech, Amory; daughters, Leigh Anne Leech
Campbell (Chris), Brandon, and Penny Michelle Leech-Freed (Michael), Amory; son, Bill
Leech, Jr., Amory; granddaughters, Emory and Loudon Freed; several Leech and Cruber cousins and two aunts, Jewel Cruber Johnson, and Reba Cruber, both of Aberdeen.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2pm, November 29, 2013, at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory, with Bro. Wes White, Rev. Brian Gordon, and Rev. Julian Goddard officiating. Burial will follow in Young Memorial Garden, Smithville. Pallbearers will be Brad Stevens, Brian Stevens, Jim Leech, Sid Priest, Stan Brock, Billy Easterling, Alan Clay and Jerome Goddard. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Parker, Frank Comer, Ralph Dill, Byron Shelton, Donald Smith, Billy McCoy, Bo Hathcock, Billy Ford, and Robert Chambers.

Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 10am-1:45pm, with services immediately following.

Donations may be given to the Billy Pete Leech Scholarship Fund at any Community Bank within MS or mailed to Community Bank, P.O. Box 270 Amory, MS 38821.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.