Nyla Leahy

Nyla Fay Craddock Leahy

Aiken, SC  – Nyla Fay Craddock Leahy, 80, wife of the late James Edmund Leahy, entered into rest Tuesday morning, December 17, 2013, at Jefferson Hospital in Louisville.  Celebration of Life services will be held at 11:00AM Saturday morning, December 21, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Aiken with Dr. Fred Andrea officiating.  A private interment will be in the Lindenwood Cemetery in Stoneham, MA in the spring of 2014.

Nyla was one of three daughters born to the late Priscilla Irene Crowell Craddock and the late Holland Worth Craddock in Stoneham, Massachusetts where she lived until 1972 when she migrated to Aiken SC. She was a member of First Baptist Church and was a volunteer at the Red Cross where she made blankets. Her husband died at a young age so she raised her three children on her own—she was a strong, independent woman who always lived life on her terms and “did it her way”.  An excellent planner and organizer, Nyla could budget the household money, making much out of little. Her hobbies and favorite pastimes were knitting and crocheting. She loved birds, especially her pet birds—Peaches, the cockatiel that she taught to speak, and Oliver and Iris, her two budgies.

Nyla was also preceded in death by her sister, Wilda C. Gibson. Survivors include her three children, Joyce E. Leahy (George Needham) of Columbus Ohio, James E. Leahy, Jr. of Minneola, Florida, and Nyla “Tish” Dixon (Thomas) of Wrens, Georgia; a sister Marcia Guinn of Aiken; five grandchildren, Katie Wallace Callison (Rob), Matthew Leahy, Mark Leahy, Amanda Dixon Davis and Sharon Dixon; and seven great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to services (10:00-11:00AM) at the church Saturday morning, December 21, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church, PO Box 3157, Aiken SC 29802.
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Psalms 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;  For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

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