Virginia Harty

Virginia K. Harty, 92, died Friday, November 15, 2013 at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility in Bellaire.
Being a friend to the many was a part of Virginia's life on this Earth. For those fortunate to be those friends she kept the Hallmark store in business. Friends didn't just receive a Christmas card each year but also Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and best of all, birthday cards.
Virginia and her husband Walter had a close group of friends they spent each special holiday with. Virginia brought fruit pies and cream pies. Most of all she loved baking cookies and sharing them. For a potluck she always made her orange Jello salad with crushed pineapple and shredded carrots.
The focal point of Virginia's life was her church. She spent many hours at Ellsworth Wesleyan Church, serving in the Missionary Society, as a Church Board member, and teaching a Sunday School class about Jesus Christ, God's Son.
Born January 17, 1921 in Detroit, Alice Laura Virginia Keillor, she was the daughter of Charles and Clara Florence Susanna (Swisher) Keillor. Virginia had two older brothers, Lorne Allen Dawson Keillor and Edsel Francis Courtney Keillor. They later moved to Hamtramck. Virginia attended school in Detroit until half way through her tenth grade year when she fell ill and could not complete due to not having enough energy.
Virginia's mother died in her arms of kidney failure when Virginia was a young girl. Her father died of kidney failure soon thereafter. She lived with her brother Edsel until, as a young bride, she met and married Walter Harty on March 21, 1942. Walter served in WWII for three years and during that time their son Walter Jr. was born on May 11, 1943.






They moved to the Ellsworth-Central Lake Road. Virginia worked at the canning factory and Walter worked construction, always working opposite hours so someone would be at home with Walter Jr. They later welcomed infant grandson David Harty into their home and raised him.
In 1981 they moved to Park Street in Ellsworth where her next-door neighbors were Larry and Laura Essenberg. Their children Kim, Rob, and Wendy became the recipients of many of Virginia's baked goodies. They became "adopted grandkids" and she and Walter "spoiled them lots."
In November of 2000 Virginia had the misfortune to fall and break her leg. She spent the past thirteen years with another family of friends at the Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility in Bellaire. Virginia had a hearty "Hello" to each nurse, aide, janitor, cook, or laundry personnel and loved being a part of all of the activities provided by this caring home - especially chapel service. The love of her life was Jesus Christ her Savior, and everyone at Church knew her favorite song was #242, "Victory in Jesus."
Virginia is survived by her much-loved daughter-in-law Sharon; grandchildren David, Kim, Rosie, Mike; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her husband Walter Harty Sr. in 1988, son Walter Harty Jr. in 2009, her brothers Lorne Keillor and Edsel Keillor.
Visitation was held Sunday, November 17, 2013 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hastings Funeral Home in Ellsworth. The funeral service was held Monday at 11 a.m. at the Ellsworth Wesleyan Church with Pastor Chris Wallace officiating. Burial was in Ellsworth Cemetery.