Ellen Reedy Conley

Ellen Reedy Conley, 94, of Troy, VA passed peacefully on February 17, 2026. Born on December 6, 1931 in Dickenson County, VA, Ellen Marie was the daughter of Flora and Clyde Reedy and grew up with four siblings on a family farm in Clintwood, VA. After graduating from Berea College in 1953, she married her college sweetheart, James (Jim) Conley in 1954. They eventually settled in Charlottesville, VA where Ellen was a stay-at-home mom to her three sons, Frank, John, and David. When the boys all reached school age, Ellen began a more than 30-year teaching career in the Charlottesville Public Schools. Ellen was passionate about education and came from a family of school educators. She taught Home Economics at Buford and Walker Middle Schools and Charlottesville High School, where her students remember her fondly to this day. She was active in the Delta Kappa Gamma teacher’s honor society and enjoyed the fellowship and membership activities of the organization.

In retirement, Ellen enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, canning, and assisting her husband with upholstery on their antique cars and furniture restorations. She loved monthly Ladies Luncheons with her South Keswick neighbors and hosted gatherings for both the neighbors and the car clubs that Ellen and Jim participated in. They were both very active members in the Shenandoah Valley British Car Club and the local chapter of the Antique Automobile Club. They travelled extensively in their 1963 Triumph sports car to attend annual car shows up and down the East coast and made new friends. They extended these friendships with many trips to Europe and the British Isles with the Little British Car Company.

Ellen was a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church and regularly attended services for over 50 years. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband James F. Conley, and sisters Joyce Reedy and Helen Reedy, her twin. She is survived by her brother Floyd A. Reedy, her sister Francis Gale, and her three sons Frank Conley (Kate Nesbitt) and John Conley of Charlottesville, and David Conley (LuAnne) of Russell, KY, and grandson Christopher Conley.

There will be a visitation from 5:00 to 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 25th at Teague Funeral Home and a graveside service at 2:00pm Thursday, Feb 26th at Holly Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Berea College to support deserving students’ education.