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Weir -- Geraldine Leighton Weir, 88, passed away recently at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque. She was born in El Paso, TX August 3, 1912, to William C. Leighton and Pearl Parry Leighton. Her father served for many years in international railroad traffic management as cashier and general agent of the El Paso Southern Railway or Mexico Northwestern Railway. Her grandfather, James W. Leighton, an English Immigrant, settled in Socorro along with Joseph Edward Smith, renowned frontier photographer. James Leighton married Elizabeth Chadwick of Leeds, England, in 1885 in Socorro and in 1887 William was born in Kelly, NM as the first of six children. Of these Leighton children, one was born in the Territory of New Mexico, one was born in Mexico, one was born in England, and three were born in El Paso where the family finally settled. Later Marriages of this group of children brought to the family the names of Gilchrist and Rowland who were early settlers at Taos, Mora, and Las Vegas. Geraldine graduated from El Paso High School and later moved to Las Cruces when she married attorney Jess D. Weir in 1935. At this time, she joined the First Presbyterian Church of Las Cruces of which she remained a lifelong member. She was active in her church circle, the Christian Day Nursery, the Hospital Auxiliary, the Community Concert Assn., and the I.F.F. Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, her brother, Parry Leighton, and her sister, Mary Seddon. She is survived by her two sons, William Leighton Weir and wife, Connie of Albuquerque, and Jay Weir of Las Cruces; along with grandchildren Christy Weisz and Michael Weir of Albuquerque and Billy Weir of Peoria, AZ; she was also very fond of her three great-grandsons. At her request there were no services. Memorials may be made to the New Mexico Boys Ranch at Belen.
        Published on: Sun January 28, 2001