Marguerite (Peggy) Kelly Geraty

Marguerite (Peggy) Kelly Geraty passed away peacefully with family beside her on Wednesday, October 26, 2016. The relatives and friends of Marguerite (Peggy) Kelly Geraty are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM, Monday, October 31, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The Rite of Committal will follow at St. Lawrence Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday afternoon between 3:00 and 5:00 PM at the residence of Meg and Buddy Howle, 2523 Goldbug Ave., Sullivans Island. Born on April 9, 1925 in Charleston, SC, to Frank Joseph Kelly and Julie Speissegger Kelly, Peggy was married to Charles Cooper Geraty, Jr., the love of her life for almost 68 years. She spent her childhood years in downtown Charleston among a large extended family of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. A graduate of Memminger High School and the College of Charleston, she met her future husband Charlie at college when he returned from World War II. They began a family and lived at Wide-A-Wake in Hollywood, SC while he worked in his family's farming business. They later moved back to the city of her birth and to the house her father built on Gibbes Street, where she resided until her death. Peggy Geraty was a city basketball champion as a teenager, an avid tennis player as a young adult, and an excellent bridge player all her life. But her greatest joy was as a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed writing and authored a self-published book, “Goin’ Los’ John”, a collection of short stories and memories of her life in Charleston. Peggy was the quintessential Charleston lady with a sense of humor and a strong personality that lasted 90+ years. She loved entertaining and was always looking forward to the next social engagement. She watched over her Gibbes Street block and appreciated many caring neighbors who visited with her. In later years, she sat looking out the front door to interact with both friends, strangers and anyone walking a dog. Most importantly, she loved her family and left a remarkable legacy of devotion to each of them. Peggy Geraty is survived by two children, Meg G. Howle (Buddy) of Sullivan's Island, SC and C. Cooper Geraty, III (Anne) of Charlottesville VA; grandchildren Joshua C. Miles, Kelly G. Paxton (Ben), Lauren F. Howle, Charles B. Howle, Jr. (Lauren); four great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins. The family wishes to express its deepest appreciation to Delores Wright for her loving devotion for 13+ years and to the many loving caregivers who enabled her to remain in her home. Memorial donations may be made to the Trident Technical College Foundation, PO Box 61227, Charleston, SC 29419 (with notation Peggy Geraty).