Mary Lee Dean

Mary Lee Dean, 78, of Westridge Road, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away August 19, 2012 at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas. Visitation will be 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, August 22, 2012, 2:00 PM, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Dick Means officiating. Private interment will be in Sunset Gardens Memorial Park, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Mary Lee Dean was born March 10, 1934 in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma to Albert Lee Roy and Nellie Adeline (Lee) Dean. She moved to Carlsbad with her family as a young girl and graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1952. Mary Lee worked at Skeen Furniture from 1951 to 1962. She received her BS degree in 1964 from NMSU. Mary Lee attended UTEP in the summers and earned her Master of Education in 1966. She began her career with the Carlsbad Municipal Schools in 1964 where she taught at Alta Vista Junior High and later was assistance principal at Mid High until retiring in 1991 with 27 years of service. Mary Lee continued to obtain advanced certificates in education throughout her career and was a member of Carlsbad Education Assoc., National Education Assoc. and Alpha Delta Kappa. Her hobbies included reading, sewing, gardening and she was also a member of First Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Pauline Watson; brothers: Albert Dean and J. R. Dean. Survivors are two nieces: Nelda Ivey and husband, David of Houston, TX, Cathy Short and husband, Ricky of Waddell, AZ; nephew, Sonny Watson of Elko, Nevada; four great-nephews: Quinton Short and wife, Cori, Jeff Watson and wife, Mindy, Shawn Watson and Ken Barnett and wife, Monica. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 112 North Alameda Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220, Landsun Homes, Caring Hands, 2002 Westridge Road, Carlsbad, NM 88220 or Gideons International, P.O. Box 391, Carlsbad, NM 88221-0391. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.