Peggy Joyce (Snapp) Headley

Peggy Joyce (Snapp) Headley passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2021.

She was born in Vincennes, Ind., in 1930 as the youngest of three. As a child of the Great Depression, she had little yet wanted for nothing. Her early years were shaped by her admiration of her kindergarten teacher, who one day she would follow in her professional path.

After graduation from Vincennes High School, she made her way to Indiana Teachers College, earning her teaching degree in 1952.

While attending college, she met her future husband, Jim. They were married on Veterans Day 1951 and recently celebrated 69 years of marriage.

Peggy’s professional career took her to Crawfordsville, Greencastle and South Putnam school corporations. Along the way, she earned her master’s degree from DePauw University.

She taught at Fillmore for such an extended tenure that she educated three generations of some families. She was known for her passion to get the most out of her students and generously reward them and yet was also a disciplinarian. “Mrs. Headley” made school interesting so her students didn’t realize they were also learning a lesson plan.

She and Jim welcomed three children, Markland (Tammy), Jamie (Randall) and Matthew (Karen), into their lives. She instilled her work ethic in them at an early age, but they just thought they were having fun with mom. Later, Grammy’s family focus became her grandchildren Roland, James (Laura), Maggie, Jeanette (Justin), Lossan, Preston, Olivia and great-grandson Jack. Whether it was taking a trip to New York or on a family fishing trip or even going to the store, Grammy was in charge of the fun and the grandchildren wouldn’t have it any other way. She knew how to encourage them to do something that they didn’t think they had the talent to do as well as help dust themselves off and get back in “the game” when they were discouraged.

On the many family fishing excursions, she was the keeper of different fish contest tallies. More often than not, her name was at the top of the different charts. Second place became a win for other family members, as she routinely hauled in the biggest and the most.

Peggy was a member of several organizations, such as the Delta Kappa Gamma, the WHCC and Saint Andrew’s South. At Saint Andrew’s, she became an ardent supporter/chairwoman of Rally for a Cure breast cancer project. She was also presented with a Sagamore by the Wabash by the governor.

After retiring from Fillmore Elementary, she and Jim split their time between Greencastle and Punta Gorda, Florida. She became an avid golfer, recording five holes-in-one. She and Jim provided countless fond memories for their family and friends throughout their lives.

Visitation will be Saturday, May 8 from 10-11 a.m. at Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home. Private family burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, Peggy requested contributions be made to the Fillmore Elementary PTO playground improvement project, 161 S. Main St., Fillmore, IN 46128.