Iva Leighty

Iva M. Leighty, 85, of Scottdale, passed away Sunday, June 26, 2016, at The Harmon House Care Center, Mt. Pleasant. She was born Dec. 25, 1930, in Rostraver Township, a daughter of the late Thomas and Sarah Amanda Cowan Byers. She was a graduate of the Class of 1948 from East Huntingdon High School in Alverton.

Iva was a member of the Pennsville Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant, and a previous member of Christ United Methodist Church in Scottdale. She impacted many lives with the love of Christ through teaching Sunday school classes and Bible studies, leading youth and mentoring women.

Prior to retirement in 1992, Iva owned a marketing agency. She was previously employed by the Laurel Group Newspapers and Scene Magazine as the circulation and advertising manager.

In addition to her parents, Iva was preceded in death by her husband, James G. Leighty; a sister, Jean Eicholtz; and four brothers, Zane, George, James and Ernest Byers. Iva is survived by her children, James T. (Tom) Leighty and wife, Colleen, of North Carolina, Ernest R. Leighty and wife, Dawn, of Virginia, and Bonnie S. Shaffer and husband, Ronald, of Ohio; seven grandchildren, Corinne Lawson, Jared, Justin, Dane and Grant Leighty and Michael and Jami Shaffer; three great-grandchildren, Jenna, Rex and Thomas Leighty; a brother, Russell Byers and wife, Ida, of Ruffsdale; sisters-in-law, Jane, Betty and Jean Byers, of Scottdale; brother-in-law, Donald Leighty and his wife, Erma Rose, of Scottdale; and sister-in-law, Janet Keim and her husband, Richard, of Scottdale; and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the GRAFT-JACQUILLARD FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATIONS SERVICES INC., 303 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale. Additional visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of service at 2 p.m. Friday, July 1, at the Pennsville Baptist Church, 3298 Richey Road, Mt. Pleasant, with Pastor Terry V. Murray officiating. Interment will follow in the Scottdale Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made to Hebron Ministries 1504 Summit Point Road, Berryville, VA 22611.