Obituary of Celia Shisler Bray

Celia S. Bray BEST MOM EVER Celia S. Bray, beloved Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister, Aunt and Cousin, died peacefully in her home on January 12, 2017. She was born on the Snake Hill Road Shisler family farm in Morgantown on November 13, 1923, the sixth of eight children of Charles and Mabel Spurgeon Shisler, and lived in Jerome Park until graduation from Morgantown High School in 1942. Celia’s sense of adventure took her and her girlfriend to Washington, D.C. via bus the week after their high school graduation. Shortly thereafter, she met a handsome Navy man, William P. Bray, Jr. who would become her husband. Their early married life was spent in the D.C. and Virginia area, where their five daughters were born, before returning home to Morgantown in the early 1960’s. In 1964, Celia was widowed when her husband died suddenly, leaving her with the enormous responsibility of raising her five daughters. With much determination and hard work, and with the support of family and friends, she raised “Her Girls” and was able to retire from the U.S.D.A. Forest Service where she was Super Secretary and was admired and respected by her co-workers. Upon her retirement, Celia was finally able to re-kindle that sense of adventure and travel with her girlfriends Virginia and Nancy, and Her Girls. She loved travel, cruising, line dancing, bowling on her leagues, volunteering at WVU Hospital and Rosenbaum Family House, playing the slot machines at the casinos, and watching WVU football and basketball. Celia’s daughters (Her Girls) will miss her forever. JoAnn Faggert (David); Nancy Mazzuckelli, with whom she resided; Patricia Toothman (Gary); Pam Guariglia (Terry). She will be missed by her loving brother Charles Shisler, Jr. (Carrie) and her best friend and sister, Delores Thomas, as well as her grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Celia lost her cherished youngest daughter, Kelly Bray Simons, on January 1, 2017. She was also predeceased by her brothers George (Debs) Shisler and Neil F. Shisler, and her sisters Viola Dunn, Roxie Carroll, and Marion Keener. Celia’s family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice, and her compassionate caregivers Debbie, Shirley and Martha. In lieu of flowers, donations in Celia’s memory may be made to Sabra United Methodist Church in Morgantown, of which she was a lifelong member, or a charity of your choice. Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, on Sunday, January 15th from 12 Noon until the time of the funeral service at 2 PM with Rev. Larry Buckland officiating. Interment will take place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.