Elsie Leary

Elsie Juanita Kepley Holshouser Smithwick Leary, 82, of Greenfield Dr, Portsmouth, VA, beloved wife of BJ Leary, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, went to be with the Lord Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006, at Sentura Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, VA. Mrs. Leary, a North Carolina native, was born May 10, 1924, in Franklin Township, Rowan County, the daughter of Carvie Lindsey and Elsie Coughenour Kepley. She attended church in Norfolk until her health declined. Mrs. Leary's 1st job was in the Kannapolis cotton mill in NC. Following the death of her 1st husband, David, she was a chauffer for the Army in Norfolk during Worild War II, traveled the world with her 2nd husband, the father of her children, Ret. 1st Sgt. O.B. Smithwick, moved the family to Portsmouth and married BJ Leary 32 years ago then retired from Food Giant. Survivors include her loving husband BJ Leary; children Eileen Conway, Linda Ron Widener of Douglasville, GA and Oswald B. Laura Smithwick Jr. of Washington, NC; step children Kathy, Nora, Johnny and Pattie Ann Leary of Va, Fl , PA and OH ; sisters Mozel Gary Goodman of Shalotte, NC and Pansey Ronnie Sells of Salisbury, NC; brother Bobbie Marlene Kepley of Salisbury, NC; brother-in-law Eddie Lewis of Virginia Beach, VA; sister-in-laws Pauline Bonner of Virginia Beach, VA and Ophelia Jack Kepley of Salisbury, NC; grandchildren Reggie Brandie Widener of Whitesburg, GA, Walter KaCee Widener of Tallahassee, FL, Emily Jeff Ballew of Kennesaw, GA, Chloe Conway of Hoover, AL; great-grandchildren R.J. Widener and Jacob Ballew; an uncle, several cousins, nieces, nephews and step-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands David Holshouser of Salisbury, NC and Oswald Smithwick of Washington, NC, sisters Helen Lewis, Velma Peregory, Faye Loving and Olene Kepley; brothers C.B. Kepley, Lloyd Kepley and Jack Kepley; and step-son Jimmy Leary. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday in Loving Funeral Home, Churchland Chapel by Rev. W. Thomas Wood, with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends in the funeral home on Tuesday from 7-8 PM.

Elsie Leary

May 10, 1924 - December 30, 2006