Duff, Lee Belshee

Lee Belshee Duff, 79, of Christiansburg, passed away on Monday, May 7, 2012, at Montgomery Regional Hospital, with her children at her side. She was born January 17, 1933, in Staunton, to the late Reese Bowen Belshee and Mozelle Moubray Belshee Simmons. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Eugene Adkerson Duff. Also preceded her in death were sisters-in-law, Jean Smith Belshee, Marjorie Gillespie Belshee and Faye Raeford Belshee. Mrs. Duff is survived by three children, daughter, Leigh Anne Leist and husband, Steve, of Christiansburg; sons, Thomas Bowen Duff and wife, Laurie, of Sandown, N.H. and William Scott Duff and wife, Donna, of Christiansburg. She was blessed with five wonderful grandchildren, Carl Robert Leist, Hannah Marlee Duff and Abigail Genene Duff, of Christiansburg, and Elias Scot Duff and Grace Murron Duff of Sandown, NH. Mrs. Duff is also survived by her sister, Judith Belshee Belanger and husband, Daniel, of King William; as well as brothers, James Edward Belshee, of Staunton, Reese Bowen Belshee Jr. and wife, Betty, of Manassas, and Charles William Belshee, of Bensalem, Pa. Mrs. Duff, a lifelong educator and administrator, devoted many years to the children, and fellow educators of the Pulaski County and Chesterfield County Public Schools, and retired in the year 2000, after an extremely rewarding career. She filled her retirement years with wonderful time spent enjoying her family, traveling, reading, cooking, music, and took particular joy in attending her grandchildren’s sporting events and keeping track of all their athletic and extracurricular endeavors. She was a member of the Christiansburg Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Duff’s family would like to offer a special “thank you” to Dr. Harry McCoy and the staff of Blue Ridge Cancer Care for all they did for her. Additional thanks would go to the nursing staff of Montgomery Regional Hospital’s ICU, who offered her an exemplary level of care in her final days. We will always be grateful. The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 10, 2012, from 6to 8 p.m. at the Horne Funeral Home, Christiansburg. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 11, 2012, at the Christiansburg Presbyterian Church in downtown Christiansburg, with Dr. Don Makin officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Center, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942, or to the Christiansburg Presbyterian Church Music Ministry, 107 West Main Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073, or to the American Red Cross, 616A First Street, Radford, VA 24141. Online condolences may be left by visiting www.hornefuneralservice.com.