Obituaries
Obituary for Jerry Ann Ashby
JERRY ANN ASHBY, 84, of Mesa, AZ formerly of Morrison, IL, died Thursday, May 13, 2021 at Springdale Village in Mesa.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial mass service will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, June 25, 2021 at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Morrison with Rev. Fr. James Brzezinski, Pastor of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, officiating. The Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison, IL. A memorial has been established to White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Morrison.
Jerry Ann was born October 30, 1936 in Dixon, IL to Jerry W. and Ruth Ann (Paith) Meakins. She was educated in Morrison Schools and was a graduate of Morrison High School. She also attended Highland Community College, where she graduated in 1972, and also attended Shimer College and Northwestern Illinois University. On September 19, 1954, she married Donald R. Ashby. They resided in Savanna, IL until 1972 when the family moved to Thomson. After the death of Donald in 1998, Jerry Ann continued spending winters in Apache Junction, AZ, where she met and married Milford Darr Olson on October 2, 1999. Jerry Ann taught Outdoor Education Pioneer Skills at Taft Campus in Oregon in 1984 and she was employed for 8 years at Warren Cheese Plant as a sales representative and marketing until retiring in 1999. She also enjoyed working at several newspapers including Carroll County and Quad City Times under the byline “Miles to Go by Jerry Ashby” which specialized in tourism and human interest stories. She was a fifty year member of the Girl Scouts, starting as a Brownie and after being a girl member became an adult volunteer leading troops of Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors for many years. She worked for 10 years as a professional Girl Scout Field Director and Public Relations Director for Green Hills Girls Scout Council in Freeport, IL. She was a member of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Savanna.
Survivors include one daughter, Valareena DeSpain of Thomson; one son, John Lyle (Kelly Bethard) Ashby of Apache Junction, AZ; four granddaughters, Angela (Joe) Taylor of Thomson, Carrissa (Tommy) Groen of Highland, IN, August Ashby of Chicago, IL and Audrie Ashby of Freeport, IL; five great grandchildren, Aidan Taylor, Lucas Groen, Savanna Groen, Hayley Groen and Johnathon Groen ; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Donald Ashby and Darr Olson; and one brother, Alan Ray Walters.
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Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial mass service will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, June 25, 2021 at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Morrison with Rev. Fr. James Brzezinski, Pastor of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, officiating. The Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison, IL. A memorial has been established to White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Morrison.
Jerry Ann was born October 30, 1936 in Dixon, IL to Jerry W. and Ruth Ann (Paith) Meakins. She was educated in Morrison Schools and was a graduate of Morrison High School. She also attended Highland Community College, where she graduated in 1972, and also attended Shimer College and Northwestern Illinois University. On September 19, 1954, she married Donald R. Ashby. They resided in Savanna, IL until 1972 when the family moved to Thomson. After the death of Donald in 1998, Jerry Ann continued spending winters in Apache Junction, AZ, where she met and married Milford Darr Olson on October 2, 1999. Jerry Ann taught Outdoor Education Pioneer Skills at Taft Campus in Oregon in 1984 and she was employed for 8 years at Warren Cheese Plant as a sales representative and marketing until retiring in 1999. She also enjoyed working at several newspapers including Carroll County and Quad City Times under the byline “Miles to Go by Jerry Ashby” which specialized in tourism and human interest stories. She was a fifty year member of the Girl Scouts, starting as a Brownie and after being a girl member became an adult volunteer leading troops of Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors for many years. She worked for 10 years as a professional Girl Scout Field Director and Public Relations Director for Green Hills Girls Scout Council in Freeport, IL. She was a member of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Savanna.
Survivors include one daughter, Valareena DeSpain of Thomson; one son, John Lyle (Kelly Bethard) Ashby of Apache Junction, AZ; four granddaughters, Angela (Joe) Taylor of Thomson, Carrissa (Tommy) Groen of Highland, IN, August Ashby of Chicago, IL and Audrie Ashby of Freeport, IL; five great grandchildren, Aidan Taylor, Lucas Groen, Savanna Groen, Hayley Groen and Johnathon Groen ; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Donald Ashby and Darr Olson; and one brother, Alan Ray Walters.
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Previous Events
Memorial Service
Friday
25
Jun
10:30 AM
St. Anne's Episcopal Church
401 N Cherry St
Morrison, IL 61270
Cemetery Details
Location
Grove Hill Cemetery
East High Street
Morrison, IL 61270
Memorial Contribution
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