Lary, Virginia Lea (Fairley)

Virginia Lea (Fairley) Lary, 85, of Madison, Wis., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. A memorial service will be held at a future date.

She was born March 22, 1926, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Wilda Fairley. She completed high school in Marion, class of 1943, and attended Iowa State University in Ames to study home economics. She married Robert “Bob” Lary on March 21, 1948. She worked as a secretary at General Electric for one year, and then became a homemaker, raising four children.

Later in life she worked at the Northern Illinois University library for five years to help put her son through college.

Virginia was generous and always thought about how she could help others. She had a sociable nature and thought nothing of starting up a conversation with a perfect stranger. She wanted to know your story and of course she wanted to tell you hers.

Her avocation was the arts. She enjoyed working in several different medias, but mostly painted in oil and acrylic. She conceived the Kishwaukee Valley Art League in 1972. Their mission: encourage the practice and appreciation of the arts in all media and to educate people within the Kishwaukee Valley area. She was its first president.

She also was an avid collector, enjoyed traveling, and loved being with her family, friends, and pets. She loved Christmas. Her proudest accomplishment was her children.

She is survived by her four children, Susan Lary and partner Greg Kaltenheuser of Iowa City, Steven Lary and wife Judith of Cross Plains, Wis., Robin Lary and husband Wayne McCoy of Estherville and Patrick Lary and wife Pamela of Madison, Wis.; six grandchildren, Ryan Leff (wife Susan) and Kirsten Leff (partner Peter Peraud), Brian and Katharine Lary, and Gabriel and Jenna McCoy; three great-grandchildren, Kayla, Allison and Finley Leff; brothers, Jack Fairley (wife Lucille) and Dallas Fairley (wife Joanne); sister-in-law, Evelyn DiBello; a nephew; and many nieces.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Wilda (Whitten) Fairley; her stepmother, Caroline Fairley; her husband, Robert Lary; and an infant daughter, Beth Ann.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dane County Humane Society or the Kishwaukee Valley Art League.

We will miss you. You were loved.

Published Jan. 30, 2012 in The Gazette