Celebration of Life Services for Melba Ann Derry were held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 25, 2014 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry, Iowa. Words of comfort were provided by Pastor Deb Parkison of Our Savior United Methodist Church of Manson, Iowa.
Honorary casket bears were Joe Royer, Dennis Ulrich, Marshall Harpole, Bob Brown, Myron Rinker and Brian Gliem. Marjorie Vannatta was the pianist and hymns used were “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art”. Interment was at the Rippey Cemetery in Rippey, Iowa. A time of refreshments and fellowship were held at the funeral home.
Melba Ann (Shipley) Derry was born on July 31, 1934 in Perry to Lillian (Johnson) Shipley and Claude Shipley and died February 25, 2014 in Perry at the age of 79 years. She grew up in Perry and attended Perry High School, graduating in 1953. She started working as a bookkeeper for the Publishers News and then was secretary to Principal Colburn at the Perry High School.
Melba married Charles Derry on July 31, 1953 and the couple continued to live in Perry. They were blessed with two children, Jeffrey and Julie. Melba followed Chuck to Fort Knox where he was stationed with the United States Army. Upon returning to Iowa, Melba worked as the assistant bookkeeper for Lauterbach Chevrolet. In 1962 the couple bought a farm near Rippey and built a new home there. Melba then worked for eleven years for the Rippey Savings Bank. Melba enjoyed oil painting, camping, and most importantly, caring for and being with her grandchildren. She also was a member of the Rippey United Methodist Church.
Melba was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Dean. Survivors include her husband Chuck of Rippey; son Jeffrey Derry (Karin) of Johnston; daughter Julie Derry of Rippey; six grandchildren- Jared Dobney, Benjamin Allen, Jessica Allen, David Derry, Joseph Derry and Karleen Derry, one great-grandchild, London Dobney; brothers Vernon Shipley (Opal) of Carlisle, Harold Shipley (Oatie) of Westminster, CO and Dale Shipley (Vernas) of Perry; sisters-in-law Alice Shipley of Glenwood and Velda DeMoss of Rippey; brother-in-law LaVere Derry (Bev) of Rippey; nieces and nephews including Ronda Fiser of Carlisle, who was like a sister; other relatives and friends. Memorials may be dedicated to the National Parkinson Foundation and may be left at the funeral home.