An accomplished multi-instrumentalist musician, she was best known for her autoharp playing. She authored a book on How to play the Mountain Dulcimer, and was the co-founder of the Mountain Laurel Autoharp Gathering, the most prestigious autoharp festival in the world. She published the "Autoharp Quarterly" from 1988 until 1997, compiled and edited the "Autoharp Owner's Manual," and was awarded the Autoharp Hall of Fame with her former husband, Dr. George F. Orthey, Jr.