Delores M. (Mersch) DeVore Obituary (1931

Delores M DeVore, the daughter of Clarence and Evelyn (Lambert) Mersch, was born February 12, 1931, at Wichita, Kansas. She departed this life on July 15, 2025, at the Heritage Crossings in Geneva, Nebraska at the age of 94 years. Delores grew up in the Davenport community and graduated from the Davenport High School, and then completed her formal education at Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. She was united in marriage with Charley DeVore on March 11, 1949 at Searcy. They returned to the Davenport area, making their home on the farm. There are a number of fond memories of their years spent on the farm. Charley and Delores had a team of horses, Pete and Pearl (Pete was Perl's son). If Delores was wearing a skirt, she could walk up to them and lead the. However, if she was wearing jean, they would not let her catch them. Delores and her sister, Ruth, told how one Sunday when they were living on the Lambert farm, the dirt road was muddy. Their parents sent them barefooted, carrying their shoes, to go to town to bible class. In the meantime the parents drove south from the farm, not knowing if they could make it, but did and drove around to the cemetery corner and met the girls. They were late for bible class but not counted absent. Delores led a very full, active and productive life. In the 1930's as a young girl, she and her sister, Sue, accompanied their parents on a cross-country trip riding in the back of a pickup truck to deliver supplies to New York City. They were providing assistance to her aunt and uncle who were embarking on a mission trip to Africa. Delores possessed numerous interests and hobbies throughout her life including fishing, squirrel hunting, caring for birds, working crossword puzzles, scrabble and word search puzzles. Raising her sons, she volunteered her time as a cub scout leader for many years and she was affectionately considered a second mom to many kids. Her home and heart were always open, especially to her sons' friends. She loved to share meals, homemade ice cream, popcorn or whatever the boys needed. She drove a school bus for many years and loved to kids to delivered each day. Delores was always very artistic and loved to paint and do a variety of crafts. Her greatest love and enthusiasm in life was for her family and she especially treasured the time they spent together. She was a very religious Christian, attending church every Wednesday and Sunday for services. She was always ready to help others in need. Preceding her in death were her parents, Clarence and Evelyn Mersch; her husband, Charley, on July 17, 1985; her son, Kim, on July 2, 2021; and a sister, Ruth Wall and a brother, Kerry Mersch. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Larry DeVore and wife, Chris, of Edgar, Nebraska; Bryan DeVore and wife, Margaret, of Davenport; and Jeff DeVore and wife, Jackie, of Edgar. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren; a sister, Sue Holley and husband, Chris, of Lakeworth, Texas; sister-in-law, Brenda Mersch; other relatives and a host of friends. Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Monday, July 21, 2025, at the Church of Christ in Davenport with Steve Eckman officiating. Interment will be at the Davenport Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm with the family present at the Williams Funeral Home in Edgar, and 8:00 am to service time Monday at the church. Williams Funeral Home 219 North C Street Edgar, Nebraska 68935 Phone 402-224-5315 williamsfuneralhomes@yahoo.com