Peggy Lynn O'Bryan

Peggy Lynn Porter O'Bryan passed peacefully January 31, 2024, surrounded by
treasured loved ones she nurtured throughout her life. Those who were blessed
to call her Wife, Mom, Momma, Granny and COG (crazy old granny) will continue
to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest.

Peggy was an exemplary soul up for any adventure, at any time. She embodied
the best of qualities - unconditional love, strength of spirit and an unending
generosity seen in her care for her community. She accepted everyone with open
arms, an open heart and homemade cornbread.

Peggy loved spending time in the kitchen creating delicious, comforting meals for
her family. Everything she cooked hugged your soul and was one for the recipe
books, however, you would never get the recipe because every dish was made
uniquely from her heart and with whatever was in the pantry that day. We would
often ask for her secret, to which she would reply, "just needs a little bit of sugar
and salt". Which is exactly how she lived her life, with a little sprinkle of
sweetness and mischief.

Her beloved flower gardens were treasured by so many, and she took
extraordinary pride in her ability to keep anything alive and thriving (plants,
humans, animals, love and now her memory). It brought her immense joy to
share both her gardening knowledge and creations with her girls to adorn their
own homes and gardens.

Her loss created a massive hole in our hearts and yet she herself is comforting
us with handwritten notes she left for us in our books, quotes she snipped from
magazines and gifts that she pre-ordered and are just now arriving. One such
clipping was an article about looking at life as a journey instead of waiting until
you hit your goals to start enjoying it. This clipping written by Robert Hastings
challenged us to "climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot
oftener, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more and cry less. Life
must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough." This is how
Peggy lived and what she instilled in her children and grandchildren.

Peggy was born to Willis and Eva (Hannah) Porter on March 22, 1951 in Elliott
County, Kentucky. She often told stories of her humble childhood surrounded by
her eleven siblings and the adventures they embarked on that were sure to bring
a smile to anyone's face. She met the love of her life in 1968, John O'Bryan, and
shortly thereafter the love birds married and started their own family. Together
they maintained a loving marriage full of life's greatest adventures. Because of
their love and values, their children and grandchildren have a passionate love of
life, the hearts of a lion and an insane work ethic.

She will be missed by her husband of 55 years, John O'Bryan; son Christopher
O'Bryan; two daughters, Jennifer (Craig) Tomlinson and Andrea (Scott Nelson)
O'Bryan; four grandchildren, Lyndsey (Eric) Hearn, Lafe O'Bryan, Molly and Ava
Tomlinson; great-grandchild Leo Hearn; her persnickety Shih Tzu, Jojo who will
continue to keep the family in line; her granddogs Willow, Maisy, Homer, Mia and
Ripley who will miss their Granny's homemade chicken-liver birthday cakes;
three sisters, Wilma Stueve, Pon Ibsen and Colleen Brickey; as well as
numerous extended family members and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by infant daughter Jerusha
O'Bryan; three sisters, Louise Taylor, Ottie Belle Wilburn, and Penzola Porter;
five brothers William, Woodford, Lowell, and twins John and Jack Porter.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. We ask that in lieu of flowers you
honor her life by sharing one of her favorite things; plant a flower, donate to the
charity closest to your heart, make a meal for someone or grab a Diet Coke (with
extra ice) and cheers!

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff at the Baptist Heart
Hospital ICU for their care and compassion.