Greta Phyllis Cates Leard passed away peacefully at age 87 on July 27, 2026, in Austin, Texas.

The only child Of John Howard Cates and Hallie Thornton, she was born Greta Phyllis Cates in Pittsburg, Texas, on October 26, 1938. Her family moved from Pittsburg to Gilmer, Texas in 1948 and she was enrolled in the fourth grade in the Gilmer school system There she met Richard Leard, whom she would later marry and spend the rest of her life with. She graduated from Gilmer High School in 1956, as class valedictorian.

Following high school, Greta spent one year working for the local newspaper, the Gilmer Mirror, before attending North Texas State College in Denton, where she studied journalism, English, and history She graduated in 1960, with a BA in journalisrn.

Greta and Richard Leard were married in August 1960 in Gilmer and first lived in Austin. The couple soon welcomed two daughters, Lori and Lucy. In 1968, the family moved to Tyler, Texas, where Richard worked for the State Health Dept. and later the Texas Air Control Board. In Tyler, the family attended the Glenwood Church of Christ, where Greta served as secretary and bookkeeper for 23 years. In 2021 they moved to an independent retirement community in Cedar Park, Texas to be closer to family (and became part Of the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ).

Greta loved her family and was a passionate genealogist and family historian, enthusiastically researching her family roots for more than 50 years. She liked nothing better than to discover a new relative, be it from long ago or contemporary, and incorporate them into her extensive genealogical database. Her long research led her to write two family history books, one each for her mother's and father's families. She organized numerous family reunions.

Greta loved to visit and care for people who might be sick, lonely, or new to her community. She served as a mentor to English-language learners and school children. She also volunteered with Meals on Wheels and World Bible School. Greta taught 2nd grade Sunday School for many years. She was a faithful churchgoer and loved her church families in Gilmer, Tyler, and Austin.

Greta is survived by her husband, Richard Leard; her daughters, Lori McGathy of Leander, TX, and Lucy Perrin Of Malibu, CA (and her husband Tim); five grandchildren, including Hannah McFarland of Memphis, TN (and her husband Kyle), Sam Perrin of Port Moody, British Columbia (and his wife Erika Ordog), Will Perrin of College Park, MD (and his wife Katie O'Malley Perrin), Garrett McGathy of Austin, TX, and Gracyn McGathy of San Diego, CA; two great granddaughters, including Luna McFarland and Hazel McFarland of Memphis, TN Greta was predeceased by her parents, Howard and Hallie Cates Of Gilmer, TX, and her parents-in-law, Grady and Hazel Leard of Gilmer, TX.

A graveside service was held at Sunset Memorial Park in Gilmer, Texas on Friday, July 31, 2026. A memorial service is planned for 10:30 am on October 17th at Glenwood Church of Christ in Tyler. In lieu Of flowers, the family suggests donations to: World Bible School (online at worldbibleschool.net or by mail to P. O. Box 2169, Cedar Park, TX 78630), Meals on Wheels (mealsonwheelstexas.org), or Hospice Austin (hospiceaustin.org)