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DONLEY, MARY ELIZABETH Mary Elizabeth (Libby) Donley (aka Daniels) died peacefully on June 30, 2014, in Austin, Texas with her eldest daughter, Dana Reaud, at her side. Libby was born April 4, 1924, in Carlsbad, New Mexico to William Guy and Frances Donley. At the age of seven, when her father became school superintendent she moved with her family to Hobbs, NM, where she lived much of her early and adult life. Libby was a graduate of the University of New Mexico and a member of Chi Omega Sorority during her time at UNM. During WWII, her college education was briefly interrupted as she returned home to work at the USO at the Hobbs airfield. It was there she met her first husband, John Duffy. After a brief whirlwind romance, they were married prior to his deployment to Europe. He never returned. Libby returned to and graduated with honors from UNM. In 1946, she married a local Hobbsan and her high school beau, Jack Daniels. While in Hobbs, Libby dedicated herself to her family and the community. She led the effort to successfully expand the original Hobbs Public Library and in the early 1970's she served as a member of the State Library Board. She encouraged her children to read, every day, to absorb, and to be critical thinkers. Over the past few years, she has supported teacher scholarships at NMJC in honor of her parents who were educators and in honor of her father, Guy Donley who helped spearhead the enabling legislation to create NMJC. For the past 25 years Libby has resided in the Beaumont/Austin Texas area. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her first husband, John Duffy, her former husband and father of her children, Jack Daniels; her sister Virginia Conwell; and her son and youngest child, Robert G. (Bobby) Daniels. She is survived by her daughter and caregiver, Dana Adele Reaud (Wayne), and her middle child, Diane Denish (Herb), grandchildren Reagan and Ryann Reaud, Suzanne, Spencer and Sara Schreiber, six great grandchildren, and two loving nieces, Libby Shapiro and Jenna Hall. Contributions may be made in Libby's memory to NMJC Foundation, 1 Thunderbird Circle, Hobbs, NM 88240 or to Hobbs Public Library, 509 North Shipp St., Hobbs, NM, 88240. Broussard Funeral Home in Beaumont, Texas, is in charge of arrangements.
        Published on: Sun July 06, 2014