Nellie Gertrude (Jackson) Voorheis, 99, of Brown County passed from this life on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 at 4:15 p.m. at her daughter’s residence in Martinsville with her loving family by her side. Her passing was just 6 months shy of her 100th birthday.

Nellie was one of five children born to Emmanuel Jackson and Sarah (Robinson) Jackson Farr.  She was born on Aug. 12, 1913 in Monroe County. On May 23, 1931 she married Wade A. Voorheis; he preceded her in death on Dec. 13, 1978.  She and Wade made their home in Brown County, with their first home on Hickory Hill Orchard on Bear Creek Road.  In 1936, they moved north approximately 2.5 miles on that same road to the place they’d call home and raise their family for many years to come.Nellie was a devoted homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. She worked tirelessly around the house and on the farm gardening, cooking, canning, and making homemade butter, cottage cheese and much more. Though it was hard work, she never complained and took great pride and pleasure in all she did. She also enjoyed sewing, quilting, reading, flower gardening and music. To no surprise, her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was also a member of Cottonwood Christian Church in Morgantown.

She will be dearly missed by her family and friends, including her two daughters, Eva Graves of Morgantown and Kay Thomas of Martinsville; seven grandchildren, Michael and Gary Graves, Daniel and Larry Voorheis, Mary Ann Schmidt, Linda Critser and Teresa Bowman; four stepgrandchildren, Vickie Davis, Trina Shinkle, Shirley Drake and Kim Lester; several great-grandchildren; several stepgreat-grandchildren; several great-great- and stepgreat-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 47 years, Wade A. Voorheis; three sons, Elmer Dee, Raymond Lee and Wade Alvin Voorheis Jr.; two brothers, Elmer Dee and Roy Jackson; and two sisters, Annetta Bernice Goss and Effie S. Jackson.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Saturday, Feb. 23 from 4-7 p.m. and on Sunday, Feb. 24 from 1-2 p.m. at Neal & Summers Funeral and Cremation Center in Martinsville. A celebration of life service will begin at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home and burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery in Martinsville.

Online condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.nealandsummers.com