Gladys May (Pecsok) Lekson

GLADYS MAY LEKSON, an Albuquerque resident since 1975, died peacefully on January 21, 2014 at the age of 92, after five years of declining health. She was preceded in death by her husband John Lekson and her brother Robert Pecsok, as well as by in-laws Ann, Betty, Bill, Dolores, Ed, Josephine, Lou, Mary Pecsok, Mary Pierce, and Max. She is survived by her son Michael Lekson, son Stephen Lekson and daughter-in-law Catherine Cameron, brother Donald Pecsok, and sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Charles Merwin, as well as by brother- and sister-in-law Lud and Helen Lekson, brother-in-law Fred Lekson, and sisters-in-law Linda Lekson, Edie Coyne, and Marcella Pecsok, along with a huge number of nieces, nephews, and their offspring, for all of whom she was the much-loved "Aunt Gladys." Gladys was born in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, August 16, 1921, to Michael and Katherine Pecsok, and grew up in the Cleveland area. In 1938, she graduated with a degree in education from Western Reserve University, where she met her future husband. She taught school and worked in an office prior to her marriage October 4, 1945. Her husband John, also a Cleveland native, was a career military officer, who had served in the European theater with the 82nd Airborne in World War II. She accompanied him on all but two of his subsequent assignments: his first deployment to Korea and his combat tour in Vietnam, during which she lived near family in California and Mississippi, respectively. They were posted to bases throughout the U.S., as well as to Washington, DC, Austria, Italy, and South Korea. She was a strong partner for her husband throughout his career, actively involved in supporting the families of soldiers wherever she and John were assigned. When John retired as a Major General, they moved to Albuquerque, where her mother, an aunt and uncle, and her sister Nancy's family were already located. Gladys and John both made many close friends here, were actively engaged in family and community activities, and traveled extensively. Following her husband's death in 1992, she decided to move to La Vida Llena retirement center in 1995, where she was a highly involved member of its community for many years. She continued her world travel, often accompanied by her sons and daughter-in-law and sometimes by her sister. In her final years at La Vida Llena, she lived in its memory unit, "Mi Casa," where the staff helped make it a loving home for her. Throughout her life, Gladys was a caring, engaged, and thoughtful person, who always did her best to make things better for others. She was a tremendous positive influence on all who knew her -- a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, aunt, sister, in-law, and friend. Following the memorial service February 15 at La Vida Llena, she will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband John. Those wishing to make a contribution in her memory are encouraged to donate to the Full Life Foundation, c/o La Vida Llena, 10501 Lagrima de Oro NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.