Leona Ruth Massey VanDyke, 86 of Chestertown, MD passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in Compass Hospice Center, Centreville, MD.

Mrs. Van Dyke was born on May 2, 1937, near Galestown, MD, daughter of the late Willard Jasper Massey and Edna L. Willey Massey. When she was a teenager her family moved to Rock Hall, where they operated the Rock Hall Canning Company. She was a 1955 graduate of Chestertown High School, the proud recipient of that year's Commercial Honors. Mrs. VanDyke worked for many years as a paralegal, working for various law offices throughout Chestertown and Easton, and prepared taxes for H & R Block. She later owned her own title company.

Leona loved gardening, canning, cooking, upholstery work and her summer vacations in Maine. She was a member of the Homemakers Club and was known for her homemade pies. She was a Life Member of the PTA.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Ralph F. Massey.

Mrs. VanDyke is survived by her husband of nearly 66 years, Ralph VanDyke; their sons, Marvin VanDyke (Tiffany) of LaPlata, MD and David VanDyke (Sharon) of Lexington, VA; 2 grandsons, David Thomas VanDyke, Jr. and James O'Dell VanDyke, and special cousins, Barbara Coulbourn and Jane Dean along with a host of other cousins.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, February 11 from 2:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. at the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, 118 W. Cross St. Galena, MD. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, February 12th at 11:00 AM at Shrewsbury Parish Church, 12824 Shrewsbury Church Rd., Kennedyville, MD, where burial will follow in adjoining cemetery.