PORT ROYAL - Esther Jane Leidy, 87, of Milford Street, Port Royal, died at 2:37 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at Brookline Manor, Mifflintown.
She was born on Feb. 12, 1926, in Locust Run, Juniata County, to the late John and Martha (Snouffer) Fogleman. She married John C. Leidy Sr. on July 14, 1948, who preceded her in death on June 22, 1972.
She is survived by: son, John C. Leidy and wife, Nance, of Harrisburg, and daughter Jennie L. Ehrenzeller and husband, Tony, of Falls Church, Va.; grandchildren, J. Russell Leidy, Janice Leidy Pigga and husband, Joseph, Judith Leidy Hudacs and husband, Dennis, and John Anthony Ehrenzeller; two great-grandsons, Charlie Hudacs and Jackson Pigga; two brothers, Harry Fogleman and wife, Edie, and Wayne Fogleman and wife, Beverly; and two sisters, Wanda Berlin and Isabel Quigley.
Mrs. Leidy graduated from Juniata Joint High School in 1944. She retired as a secretary from the Tuscarora Valley, Walker and Lack Tuscarora Elementary Schools in Juniata County. She formerly worked for Kyle-Roush Insurance Agency, of Mifflintown.
She served as the first woman elder of the Port Royal Presbyterian Church where she was also a member of the Victory Class. She was the first woman member of the Juniata County Agricultural Society Board and was the first woman real estate sales person in Juniata County.
Esther was a life-long member of the Port Royal Ambulance Club and the Friendship Fire Company, Port Royal. She was also a member of the Juniata County Retired Employees Association.
Esther was a proud resident of Port Royal for 62 years and served as The Third Division Grand Marshall of the Port Royal Bicentennial Parade. She enjoyed traveling and visiting family in Colorado, Louisiana and Virginia. She especially enjoyed the weekly card games that she played for 10 years with her friends Madelene Kilmer, Jane Cook, Dottie Henderson, Carla Zimmerman, Alice Gilson, Rosa Isenberg, Marian Beale and Reba Koons.
She was a devoted wife and mother, with many family members and friends, and will be sorely missed.
A viewing will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, and also from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, at Rex Funeral Home, 308 Market St., Port Royal. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, at the funeral home, with Rev. Crystal M. Lyde officiating.
Interment will be at New Church Hill Cemetery, Port Royal.
For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Port Royal Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 387, Port Royal, PA 17082.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/11/12 - Image Year: 2012
Photo of Esther Leidy that appeared in The Times and announced that she would be serving as the Grand Marshal of the Third Division of the Bicentennial Parade scheduled for September 29, 2012.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 10/8/12 - Image Year: 2012
Esther Leidy [right] with daughter Jennie Lou Ehrenzeller at Fairground on Sep 28, 2012. (Photo submitted by Harold Hartman, Jr.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 10/7/12 - Image Year: 2012
GRAND MARSHALL & TOWN CRIER: Grand Marshall Division 3 - ESTHER LEIDY (front seat): Lifetime member of the Port Royal Ambulance Company, 1st woman to be a licensed realtor in Juniata County, Helped plan the parade 50 years ago – now she gets to ride and enjoy, Riding with her son, Bicentennial Town Crier, JOHN LEIDY JR. and daughter Jenny Ehrenzeller (Transportation provided by Blain and Jackie Nearhood – 2002 Mustang GT convertible) (Photo submitted by Molly Kinney)
