ETHEL JANE PERRY HOLLEY

ETHEL JANE PERRY HOLLEY, 88, of Milton, W.Va., passed away Friday, November 20, 2009, in St. Mary's Medical Center. Ethel was born in Martha, W.Va., June 28, 1921, to the late Walter E. and Eva Bailey Perry. She grew up in Barboursville, W.Va., was a high school cheerleader and met her future husband, Harold, at a Barboursville drug store. Ethel supported her husband, Major Harold Holley, throughout the war as a military wife, living on several military bases. Harold pre-deceased Ethel in 1969. When the family returned to live in Milton in the 1950's, Ethel joined the Holley family in running the Holley Brothers General Store until it closed in the late 1960's. She later worked at Cabell Huntington Hospital until her retirement. She was an expert seamstress, enjoyed quilting, gardening and actively participating in her church as a Sunday school teacher, a Guild Girls leader and a Circle member. Ethel was an avid baseball fan and loved her Cincinnati Reds. She also enjoyed her many trips to Williamsburg, Gatlinburg, Lancaster, Louisville, Atlanta, and in her younger days, Florida. Family was important to Ethel, with every Sunday spent visiting either the Perry or the Holley grandparents and never missing the annual Perry reunion. She is pre-deceased by her brothers Russell, Rhodes and Ralph Perry and her sister, Vernice Perry Midkiff. She leaves behind her son, Joe Holley and his wife Katie, daughters Jane Taylor and Betty Holley, and was Memaw to granddaughters Jennifer Holley Hall, Allison and Caroline Taylor and great-grandson, Cooper Hall. Ethel will be dearly missed by her family and long-time friends at the Milton Baptist Church. A memorial service will be conducted 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 25, 2009, at Milton Baptist Church, 1123 Church Street, Milton, with Pastor Allen Stewart officiating. Inurnment will be in Milton Cemetery. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Chapman's Mortuary, Huntington, is assisting the family.