Benny Darrell Lesley

Benny Darrell Lesley passed away at his home in El Paso, Texas, on June 15, 2026, at the age of 87. Ben was born on March 11, 1939, in Childress, Texas.Ben committed his adult life to the field of education for nearly 40 years in the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) as a math teacher, football coach, and basketball coach at Coronado High School, an assistant principal at Fannin Middle School and Andress High School, and ultimately as principal of Irvin High School.After retiring from his service with El Paso schools in 1997, Ben spent more than a decade teaching and coaching at Santa Teresa High School in Sunland Park, New Mexico. This was are turn to the beginning of his career as a math teacher and coach at Milford and Silverton, Texas,before he came to El Paso in the mid-1960s.Lesley began his college studies as a basketball player at Clarendon Junior College in the panhandle of Texas before moving to the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, to receive his B.A. and West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M University) in Canyon, Texas,to earn his master’s degree.Ben is survived by his wife Barbara Ann Lesley and children Justine Yocum and Bruce Lesley,and his daughter-in-law Lisa Lacasse. Ben and Barbara are blessed to have 9 grandchildren: Troy Yocum, Tressa Yocum, Tay-ler Yocum, Nikole Miller, Jessica McClure, Alexander Lesley,Ireland Lesley, Aiden Lesley, and Jared Lesley.They also have 13 terrific great-grandchildren: Zac “Muscles” Adams, Zane Sanders, Brooke Yocum, Zaelynn Sanders, Bella Yocum, Zayly Adams, Zayden Richardson, Logan Gallegos,Zeke Adams, Ziran Persad, Ayla McClure, Zaih Persad, and Ace McClure.Lesley was preceded in death by his parents Bennett Alvin Lesley and Mary Winiford Kutch, hisson Richard Miller, his son-in-law Shane Yocum, and his brothers Bobby Lesley (former head basketball coach at Eastwood High School) and Donny Lesley.In retirement, Ben enjoyed playing golf (proud to have made two holes-in-one at El Paso area golf courses), avidly following UTEP and area high school sports teams, and reading the full collection of John Grisham novels. But what he will best be remembered for is his more than halfa century in service to the education of future generations of children in the El Paso/southern New Mexico region.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Martin Funeral Home East, 1460 George Dieter Drive, El Paso, TX 79936, US, on June 27, 2026, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.