Elizabeth Lindsey-Hauser

Elizabeth M. Lindsey CHESAPEAKE - Elizabeth Murphy Lindsey-Hauser, 86, died Nov. 7, 2008. She was the daughter of Watts Leroy Murphy and Margaret Mae Horne. She was the widow of her first husband, Daniel W. Lindsey Jr. and her second husband, Thomas W. Hauser. Elizabeth was born in Norton, Va., on Oct. 7, 1922. Her lifelong love of music began as a very young child as it always played an important role in the Murphy household. Some of her earliest and warmest recollections were hearing folk songs and hymns sung by her father. She began her formal musical education at the age of eight. After graduating from high school she entered Mary Washington College where she continued her studies in voice and piano. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in public school music, she furthered her vocal training in New York City for two summers with Walter Golde, a well-known voice teacher and composer. In 1944, Elizabeth accepted a position teaching music in the South Norfolk Public School System. Soon after beginning her teaching career, she met and married Daniel W. Lindsey Jr., an Air Force Captain who had just returned from World War II. A few years later, Elizabeth left the public school system for 12 years while raising a family. During that time, she taught private voice lessons and directed church choirs. She also organized and directed the Bel Canto chorus for 16 years. She worked with the Norfolk Community Concerts, serving one year on the board. She helped organize the Chesapeake Friends of Music and served as secretary. She accepted the position of choir director at Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist Church, and in 1959 was certified by the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church as Minister of Music. She loved working with the wonderful people in the Senior and Junior choirs and considered them to be her second family. The choirs continued under her direction for 47 years. In 1965, she returned to the Chesapeake Public School System teaching elementary school music and retired in 1984. In 2002, while recuperating from pneumonia and residing at Cedar Manor Assisted Living in Chesapeake, she organized other residents there who shared her love of music and created the Cedar Manor Chorale. They, along with the wonderful choir members of Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist Church, performed many concerts for other residents, friends and family. It was during this time that she met and married Thomas W. Hauser. Elizabeth was a member of Alpha Phi Sigma and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was a member of the National Music Educators Association where she also served as Chairman of District IV. The making of music was as vital to Elizabeth's soul as breathing. Through her deep love of her art, her music, she brought great beauty into the world that touched and continues to touch many hearts and spirits. In turn, the many lovely and loving people who helped create this beauty through her lifetime brought Elizabeth tremendous joy, love and fulfillment. She is survived by daughter, Martha Lindsey-Glenn and son-in-law, Kevin Glenn and daughter, Beth Lindsey; son, Daniel Lindsey III; granddaughter, Lindsey Kennedy and husband Dustin Kennedy; and two great-grandchildren, Kailey Danielle and Nolan Michael Kennedy; and Carol A. Hauser, daughter of Thomas W. Hauser. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist Church. The interment will follow in Chesapeake Memorial Gardens. The viewing will begin Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Great Bridge Chapel of Oman Funeral Home and Crematory, 653 Cedar Road, Chesapeake. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made as contributions to the St. Stephen's Society Food Bank, Chesapeake Avenue United Methodist Church, 1200 Chesapeake Ave., Chesapeake, VA 23324 or Cat Rescue, Inc., 1917 Benefit Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322. Friends are also invited to send condolences and sign the online guestbook at www.omanfh.com.