Kathryn “Kathy” E. (Smith) Balsley, 77, of Greencastle, PA, passed away early Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the Mercy House in Chambersburg, PA.
Born June 27, 1948 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, she was the daughter of the late Edward K. and Mary E. (Billman) Smith
She graduated from Clear Spring High School, Clear Spring, MD, with the class of 1966.
She and her husband, Mr. Terry Lee Balsley, were married October 21, 1967 in Hagerstown, MD. Terry passed away January 15, 2004, after over 36 years of marriage.
She worked at the Martins Grocery Store in Hagerstown, MD, in the deli department, for over 10 years, retiring in 2019. Prior to working at Martins, she did daycare in her home for many years.
Kathy was a loving mother and grandmother who adored her grandchildren. She was a talented seamstress, using her talents to sew cat nip bags for some extra cash and she also happily did any sewing requested of her by her family. She enjoyed putting jigsaw puzzles together and playing Bingo. She will be remembered as a lady with a strong will, who fought like a champ these past 6 years to live as long as she could.
She is survived by one son, Michael W. Balsley, Sr., and his wife, Wendy of Waynesboro, PA and one daughter, Tammy L. Snyder and her husband, William of Greencastle; four grandchildren: Michael Balsley, Jr. and his significant other, Autumn of Chambersburg, Ryan Balsley and his significant other, Christine of Waynesboro and Landen and Trenton Balsley of Waynesboro; one great-granddaughter, Aurora Balsley of Chambersburg, who Kathy had the opportunity to hold in her arms before her passing; one sister, Patricia “Bootie” Tedrick of Maugansville, MD and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, he was preceded in death by her siblings: Donald Baker, Buck Baker, Kenneth Smith and Margot “Sis” Rhatigan.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, September 19, 2025, in Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home, 521 S. Washington St., Greencastle, PA with Pastor Erroll Thompson officiating. Burial will follow in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro, PA.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Thursday evening in the funeral home, and again one hour prior to the service on Friday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mercy House at Mercy House by mailing a check to Mercy House of Chambersburg, 730 Norland Ave. Chambersburg, PA 17201; online at mercyhouseofchambersburg.org, or by phone at 717-575-5035.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.bowersoxfuneralhomes.com.
