Mary Ellen Leighty, 87, Loved Reading and Music

Mary Ellen was born in Lorain on February 27, 1933, the youngest of seven children of Paul D. and Ruth Glass. She attended school and lived most of her life in Lorain. Mary Ellen met the love of her life, Alfred J. “Al” Leighty, at Lorain High School and they were married on July 8, 1950. They were married for nearly 64 years until Al's passing on January 14, 2014. They had six children.

Mary Ellen was a stay-at-home mom until her youngest child started school, at which point she had various jobs, mostly in food service. She worked at Tudy's Restaurant in Lorain, Harvest House at the Midway Mall, Elyria, in the cafeteria at the FAA in Oberlin, and in the Oberlin Schools where she was the "Lunch Lady', finishing up at Eastwood Elementary School.

In her younger years Mary Ellen loved ice and roller skating, bowling, and family volleyball. She loved reading and music and loved to sing. Mary Ellen did many crafts including knitting, crocheting, tole painting, macramé, sewing and quilting. She liked cooking big dinners for family gatherings. She liked attending Cleveland Browns home games and once had season tickets for the Cleveland Opera. She was a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout Den Mother. Mary Ellen and Al were volunteers for many years for the Lorain County Metroparks and both were very active in Pittsfield Community Church.

Mary Ellen is survived by her children: Candace (Larry) McDoniel of Avon Lake, Eugene Leighty of Elyria, Randi Leighty of Lorain, Sandra Brown of Lorain and Russell (Susan) Leighty of Kentucky; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Alfred J. Leighty, son James D. Leighty, three great-grandsons, her parents, brothers Thomas, Leo (Eugene), William, Donald and Carl (Roger) and sister Wilma Ruth Hartman.

A memorial service to celebrate Mary Ellen's life will be held at a future date when it is safer to gather.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pittsfield Community Church, 17026 SR 58, Wellington, Ohio 44090.

Arrangements are by Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31st Street, South Lorain, Ohio 44055, (440) 277-8164. For expressions of sympathy and further information, please visit Reidyfuneral.com.