Vernece Leolyn (Lele) Simpson Conner, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2017 at the Brian Center in Clifton Forge, Virginia.

She was born April 1, 1928 in Clifton Forge to Evie Stone and George Moton Simpson.

She was married for 44 years to Ermon (Jodie) Conner, who preceded her in death on December 28, 1992. They lived the first years of their marriage in Staunton, Virginia before moving to Clifton Forge.

Leolyn worked at The C&O Hospital, Emmett Memorial Hospital, and Alleghany Regional Hospital as a Ward Secretary and a Pharmacy Technician for 20 years, as well as serving as a Clifton Forge election officer.

After retirement, she worked for many years as receptionist and office manager for Highlands Financial Services, where she enjoyed meeting folks during tax season.

Her favorite things included (in no particular order) her family, sewing, crocheting, decorating her home, the color "pink", tomatoes, ‘Dancing with the Stars’, shopping, and the beach. Although she never played, she became an avid tennis fan in recent years: Federer, Murray and Nadal were favorites, and she rarely missed a televised tournament.

She had been an active member of the Anata Guild, the Busy Bee Homemakers' Club, and the Clifton Forge Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Virginia Gilbert, Dorothy Moss, Mildred Kelley, Kathleen Feamster, Betty Gibson, Charles Simpson and George Simpson.

Leolyn is survived by her daughters, Christie Hardbarger and Tammy Lynn Conner; her son-in-law, Bill Hardbarger; her grandchildren, Katie Grist (Adam) and Josh Hardbarger (Edie); three great grandchildren, Evie Grist, Abe Hardbarger and Jaxson Hardbarger; her sister, Margaret Polakowski, her brother, Kenneth Simpson; a beloved sister-in-law, Ruth Hepler, and brother in law, Houston Smith; a host of loving nieces and nephews, many friends and neighbors, and two very special "daughters", Angie Hinebaugh and Maye Vess.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge. The family will receive friends on Saturday evening from 5 – 7 pm. Her nephew, Don Hepler and great-nephew, Chris Fisher will conduct the service. Pallbearers will be her grandson, Josh Hardbarger; grandson-in-law, Adam Grist; friend, Michael Hinebaugh; and nephews, Billy Simpson, Butch Simpson, and Duane Smith.

She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Mountain Regional Hospice Volunteers, who so gently guided her home, P. O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.