Norma J. Leary

Norma Jean Ehrhart Leary, age 99, of Jamestown passed away Tuesday evening, December 16, 2025, in Quality Life Services, Mercer.

She was the daughter of Wilbur (Cap) and Laura Bailey Ehrhart and was born March 12, 1926. Norma graduated from Jamestown High School in 1944 and attended Flora Stone Mather, Western Reserve University, Grove City College, and Pittsburgh Musical Institute. She married James Leary in 1948; he passed away in 2017.

Norma taught piano for 50 years and was the Jamestown United Methodist Church organist-choir director for 41 years. She was later employed by Conneaut Lake, Greenville, St. Paul Homes, and Jamestown Stateline Churches.

For 20 plus years, Norma was a photo-journalist for The Record Argus, Sharon Herald, Meadville Tribune, and Youngstown Vindicator newspapers. For 10 years she hosted a weekly radio news show, sold greeting card material, was a staff writer for Pennsylvania Magazine, marketed articles to many other publications, authored two grade school operettas (co-authored with Ed Holman), a writer’s handbook published by Harper & Rowe, compiled Jamestown History material, and composed music for two successful high school musicals with stories by James S. Kerr. She conducted writing and miniature making classes, and directed fund-raising concerts with other musicians to benefit Jamestown Area Historical Society. Recently, she wrote and self-published children’s books, featuring art work by Lois Dobson and the Rev. Dr. Christopher Fujii, Esquire.

Since 1989, Norma owned/operated a Dollhouse Shop after several years working for Nathan Leary’s Photography Studio that included assisting in photography classes Nate taught.

Formerly, Leary was president of Jamestown V.F.W. Auxiliary and Jamestown Area Historical Society, belonged to Jamestown Music Club, Fair Board, Planning Commission, Municipal Authority, PTA, Flower Club and Study Class. Earlier in life, she enjoyed tennis, swimming, bowling, and more recently, gardening, reading, hosting tea parties, and time with family.

Norma is survived by a son, Nathan Leary and wife, Becky, six grandchildren—Meghan Leary Firster and her husband, Shawn, Katherine and Colleen Leary, Ethan Leary and his wife, Jessica, Paige Leary Sabelli and her husband, Alessandro and Cameron Leary, great grandchildren, Colton Firster, Ruby Sabelli, Carson Leary and Addison Leary, two daughters-in-law, Diane Leary and Barbara Harper Leary, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and two sons, Timothy and Matthew Leary.

Services:

Family and friends will be received from 2:00 – 4:00 PM on Sunday, 12/28/25, in Loutzenhiser-Randall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 416 Liberty St. Jamestown. Inurnment will be in Park Lawn Cemetery.

Online visitors are welcome to sign the guest book and view a Video Tribute at www.loutzenhiserfuneralhome.com.