Mary Elizabeth Heslep

Mary Elizabeth Smith Heslep, 94, of Elliston, died Sunday, October 21, 2012 at Snyder Nursing Home in Salem, VA. Mary was born on February 20, 1918 to the late Floyd Steven Smith and Sarah Sallie Seymour Smith of Cascade, VA. In June 1940, she married the late Moyer Condent Dick Heslep and moved to Elliston, VA. Mary was employed by the US Postal Service for 25 years, serving in the Elliston Post Office for 14 years as clerk and for 11 years as Postmaster. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was also preceded in death by two sisters, Catherine Robertson and Jettie Taylor, and five brothers, Irving, Bartley, Gene, Tom and Bill Smith. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Sally and Jerry Brammer of Wichita, KS; her sister and brother-in-law, Hilda and Joe Weddle of Cascade, VA; her brother-in-law, Russell Taylor of Cascade; her sister-in-law, Arwilda Heslep of Elliston, VA, and numerous special nieces and nephews. Special gratitude and many thank yous to the caring friends and neighbors, Roger and Nancy Smith, Henry King, Doris West, Jerry West, Andrea Smith, Betty Kelly, Dr. Julia Hemphill, Barbara Witt, Jeff Boyd, Donald Whitlock, Barbara Hays and Xia Yates, who have been so kind and supportive of Mary. Special gratitude to the kind, caring and professional staff at Snyder Nursing home, for the excellent medical care and the loving friendship they consistently provided for Mary for over three years. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shawsville-Elliston Volunteer Rescue Squad, PO Box 14, Shawsville, VA 24162 or to the Elliston Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 290, Elliston, VA 24087. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8PM, Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home, Salem, VA. Services will be held at 11AM, Thursday, October 25, 2012 at the funeral home with a period of visitation for one hour prior to the service. Pastor John Collins of Seneca Baptist Church in Elliston will officiate. Interment will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. An online guest book is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.