Virginia Mae O'Leary

Virginia Mae O’Leary died in her home in Encampment, surrounded by her family, on Feb. 26, after a long illness.

Virginia was born on June 30, 1941 to Ernest Merrill and Virginia (Terrell) Merrill in Los Angeles, Calif. Throughout her life she enjoyed helping people, especially children. When she made a friend, they became a part of her family for life. She lived most of her adult life in the Ely, Nev., area until moving to Wyoming six years ago.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, a son William O’Leary, three bothers and one sister. She is survived by one brother, Robert Merrill and his children of Merced, Calif., her children Virginia (Tom) Carpenter and their children, of 29 Palms, Calif., Norma (Ken) Fischer, of Spokane, Wash.; Ken (Robin) O’Leary and their children, of Encampment; Linda O’Leary of Rawlins, Wyo., and Vickie (George) Richter and their children, of Franklin, Ky., and three grandchildren and their families from her son William, all from the state of Washington. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and many special friends who became family to her.

The family asks that donations be made in Virginia’s name to the Corbett Medical Foundation Kirsten Campbell End of Life Fund. Those funds are used to pay for nurses to come to the house for end of life care, and have helped establish a room at the nursing home for terminal patients and their families during end of life care.

The family expresses their sincere gratitude to Dr. Bartholomew and his staff for the excellent care, comfort and love they provided to Virginia during her illness.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m., March 7 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints located at 950 Hugus Ave., in Saratoga.