Faye Branch Leonhardt

Faye Branch Leonhardt, 89, of Morganton, NC died Sunday, March 15, 2015.  Born in Burke County, NC on October 12, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Joseph P. Branch and Olvenia Heele Branch.  Faye was a 70-year member of El Bethel Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school.  She was a teaching assistant in the Oak Hill Community for Burke County Schools and enjoyed weaving baskets and watching the Atlanta Braves.  Mrs. Leonhardt loved her family, church, and reading the bible.

Faye is survived by her daughters, Diane Smith and her husband, Mike, of Gastonia, NC and Audrey Harris and her husband, Ken, of Dallas, NC; a son-in-law, Doug Adams of Fayetteville, GA; grandchildren, Ryan Adams and his wife, Anjeline, Marcus Adams, Phillip Smith and his wife, Tammy, Bradley Smith, Nicholas Smith, and Kevin Harris; a great-grandson, Blake Smith; and a sister, Virginia Kirby.

In addition to her parents, Faye was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin Dewey Leonhardt; a daughter, Lois Adams; four brothers; and five sisters.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at El Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Ron Cooper officiating.  Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery.  The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to El Bethel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2518, Morganton, NC 28680 or to purchase bibles through Gideons International, P.O. Box 678, Morganton, NC 28680.