Flaye Lehman

LEHMAN_Flaye Haley Lehman, 92 years of age, was taken into the presence of Christ on Friday January 8, 2010, following a long struggle with Alzheimer's disease. Flaye's daughter, Brenda, and husband, Rick Davidson, were at her side reading Flaye's poetry when she passed away. She found comfort in hearing hymns, music, and the reading of Psalm 121 and Psalm 23. The sorrow associated with her death is tempered by knowing of her faith in Christ. Flaye was born in Naples, Texas September 23, 1917, and raised in Tyler, Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents and 9 siblings. She was married for 38 years to the late Robert (Bob) Frederick Lehman, Sr. of Fairmont, Minnesota. She was the mother of 6 children; Mary Wilma Smith (deceased); Dr. Robert Frederick Lehman, Jr. (deceased), wife, Kay; Michael William Lehman (Arlington, TX), wife, Carol; Daniel George Lehman (Santa Fe, New Mexico), wife, Laurie; Linda Faye Lehman (Belo Horizonte, Brazil); and Brenda Flaye Lehman Davidson (Rio Rancho, New Mexico), husband, Rick. She is survived by 13 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild. She had a special relationship with many others; including Lucy (Brazil); and exchange students Kumiko, Mitsuko, and Masako (Japan). Bob Lehman made a trip to Carlsbad, New Mexico in 1939 from Gladewater, Texas. Flaye noted, "He found there a beautiful little town of about seven thousand population with many churches and schools, shady streets lined with cottonwood trees and the Pecos River near the town." Bob and Flaye moved to Carlsbad in April 1940 to start Lehman Paint Store and raise a family. It remained under the ownership of Flaye and Bob Lehman until Bob's death in 1975. They prided themselves in providing the community with quality products and personal service. The business was sold in 1976 to Harold Younger of Rockford, Illinois. Younger continued to use the name "Lehman Paint Store" for his business. Flaye was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Carlsbad where she taught Sunday school, served as a Deacon and Elder. She was a member of the Child Guidance Club and assisted with Boy Scouts and the Camp Fire Girls. She served as President of the Altrusa Club, a member of PEO and International Poets Society. Flaye enjoyed many years of bowling; winning gold medals in the Senior Olympics. Flaye enjoyed oil painting and wrote a collection of poems she gave to her children in 1994; which expressed what she valued, her love of family, and her desire to leave a better world behind for them. She enjoyed travel and received many international guests in her home. A Memorial Service to celebrate the life of Flaye Lehman will be held at 4:00 pm on May 15, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the many in Carlsbad who made a home for the Lehman family and business. A special thanks to Jeannette and Maria of the "Loving Light" residential care home for their loving care of Flaye in her final days. The family request in lieu of flowers that donations be made in memory of Flaye Lehman to: American Leprosy Missions (ALM) 1 ALM Way Greenville, SC 29601 800-543-3135 www.leprosy.org Click on "Donate Now", "where most needed" and "Flaye Lehman" in the special instructions section. CARC Foundation 217 ½ S. Canyon PO Box 1085 Carlsbad, NM 88220 (575) 234-2644 www.carcinc.org "Lord make me an instrument of Your Peace Where there is hatred, let me sow Love; Where there is injury, Pardon; Where there is doubt, Faith; Where there is despair, Hope; Where there is darkness, Light; And where there is sadness, Joy." "Lord grant that I may seek rather to Comfort than be comforted, to Understand rather than to be understood, to Love than to be loved. For it is by Giving that one receives, by Forgiving that one is forgiven, and by Dying that one awakens to Eternal Life."