Mrs. Effie Mae Dunlavy

Effie was born in Elkins, AR on February 3, 1935 to Arthur and Rena Ledford. Elkins was in the hills of Arkansas that were not economically easy, especially in the depression years. Younger siblings included Herman Ledford, Desota, TX; Verna Byrd, of Duncanville, TX and the late Irby Ledford of Toronto, Canada. Effie attended country schools which often meant walking a fair distance but she was highly respected for not complaining. Effie used 4-H club membership to help her get in the 4 H house at the University of Arkansas and with scholarship help plus hours of work at the University Libraries, she received her bachelor degree in Library Science. While working at the University Library, she met her future husband of 65 years, Robert Dunlavy. They married in July 1954 after Bob’s graduation. Bob started to work at Alcoa in Benton, AR and Effie finished her education at the University in Jan 1955. Bob got drafted in Nov 1955 and did basic training with the 101st Airborne in SC. While Bob did special schooling at Fort Jackson, the couple lived in off base quarters and Effie started work as a librarian for SC State. After clerk-typist school, Bob was sent overseas to Germany and Effie left her job to join him in Germany in Sept 1955 and lived in off base quarters. Daughter Barbara Varian was born on Sept 28, 1956. The family moved back to Benton, Arkansas and the 2 other daughters were born there. Effie found she had a special flower arranging skill after going to a flower club. After one month, she entered 3 arrangements in the annual flower show and won 2 blue ribbons plus best in show. This carried on when the family moved to Pittsburgh, PA where her flower skills for weddings and receptions were in great demand at Memorial Park Presbyterian Church and other churches in the Pittsburgh area. Effie and all helpers were volunteers from M.P.P.C. Bob described her designs such that “no two weddings looked the same”. As they got older, they enjoyed winters in Arizona until Effie ran into cancer and stroke problems over her last 8 years. Barbara (David) Varian has 2 sons, Daniel and Jonathan, plus grandchildren Gabriel and Christopher all in Virginia; Carolyn Sue Peasley (El Paso area) has current college students, Ben and Rachel at New Mexico State. Deanna “Dede” Dunlavy earned her PHD in Chemistry at IUP and is a professor at New Mexico State. Both Barbara and Carolyn were able to achieve college masters degrees. A funeral service will be held Friday May 15, 2020 at Noon at Simons Funeral Home, Inc. 7720 Perry Highway, Pittsburgh.

Mrs. Effie Mae Dunlavy

February 3, 1935 - May 10, 2020