Funeral services for Mr. Edward Earl "Ted" Leach, age 70 of Carthage, Texas, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 19, 2008 at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with The Rev. Jennene Laurinec and The Rev. Michael C. Macey officiating. Interment will follow in Elderville Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Mr. Leach passed away on Wednesday morning, September 17, 2008 at his home in Carthage.

Edward Earl "Ted" Leach was born on February 18, 1938 in Parsons, Kansas to Felix Edward and Katherine Eileen Bohannon Leach. He graduated from Longview High School with the class of 1955 and attended Kilgore College. Mr. Leach married Maudie Davis on September 8, 1956 in McAlister, Oklahoma. He started his career by throwing newspapers at the age of nine. By age thirteen, Ted was writing sports columns for the Longview News Journal, where his father was the editor of the paper. He continued his career writing sports columns in numerous East Texas papers including the Panola Watchman in Carthage, where he co-founded the Panola Post. Mr. Leach moved to Carthage on July 10, 1971 from Mt. Pleasant, Texas. He was a member of the St. John's Episcopal Church in Carthage. Mr. Leach was preceded in death by his parents.

Mr. Leach is survived by his wife of 52 years, Maudie Leach of Carthage; two sons, Donald Leach and wife Cindy of Douglas, Wyoming and David Leach of Carthage; three daughters, Debbie McMillan and husband Larry of the Deadwood Community, Dana Dodge and husband Ricky of Carthage, and Donna Smith and husband Tommy of Carthage; one brother, John Leach and wife Linda of Henderson; two sisters, Kathy Kendle of Ft. Worth and Cynthia Cavanaugh and husband Roy of Austin; fourteen grandchildren; and twenty-eight great-grandchildren. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends also survive Mr. Leach.

Serving as pallbearers are Michael Smith, Tommy Smith, Travis Dodge, Brad McMillan, Michael Thorn, Donnie Leach, Danny Leach, and Tommy Earle. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Jarrett Hill, Richard Putnam, and Mr. Leach's great-grandsons.

If desired, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.