Grace Meenen Dempsey

Grace Meenen Dempsey went home to the Lord on February 22, 2018 at a local hospital.

She was born on July 4, 1924 in Passaic, New Jersey, the only daughter of Mae and Bill Meenen. The family moved to Shannon, Georgia when she was 5 years old.

Grace graduated from Model School and attended the University of Georgia. She married John Patton Dempsey and they would have celebrated seventy-five years of happiness together on May 1, 2018. Grace and John have lived on the family farm on Bells Ferry Road since shortly after their marriage where they practiced the family motto "Live off the Land", producing and processing their own food. Grace was an active member of Friendly River Homemakers where she won the state dress review with her dress making skills and was named State Poultry Cooking Queen. She was county-wide famous for her pecan pie which was favored at many Ruritan events and other gatherings.

Grace worked for 20 years at Brighton Mills in the cloth room and then in the business office. She joined John as an insurance agent at the Dempsey Agency in the early 70s. She was active in Insurance Women of Floyd County and American Legion Auxiliary. While John served as Ruritan National President, Grace was the First Lady of Ruritan in 1989 and together they travelled all over the country promoting the organization.

Grace is survived by her beloved husband, John whom she was married on May 1, 1943. She was dearly loved by her daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Jimmy Carney; her grandchildren: Jeff and Anne Marie Carney, Chad and Jennifer Carney, Kyle and Jessica Carney, Cabe and Emily Carney, her great grandchildren, Kevin and his wife, Reana, Erin, Kayleigh, Emmy, Laney, Davis, Tate Dempsey and Emma Carney were dear to her heart. Grace had many special friends including Gayle Knight, Melissa and Jeremiah Veillon, and Dr. Scott Bowerman as well as many others.

Services will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Salmon Funeral Home on Hwy 53 with visitation from 1 3 and service at 3:00 with Reverend Jeremiah Veillon and Reverend Kenneth Hinkley officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers are Graces grandsons- Jeff, Chad, Kyle and Cabe Carney and great-grandsons, Kevin, Davis and Tate Carney.

The family can be reached at the home of Kyle and Jessica Carney.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Friendly River Homemakers Scholarship Fund- checks can be made to Friendly River Homemakers, C/O Phoebe Cornett, 304 Bells Ferry Road, NE, Rome GA 30161.

Youre invited to visit www.salmonfuneralhome.com to share memories and post tributes.

The staff of Salmon Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Grace Meenen Dempsey.