Melvina Isabel Black Derry

Melvina Black was born in 1866, and died in December 1952. She married Arthur Derry in 1886. Her name, rather than her husband's, was on the deed to the farm. Their children were Zaida E., George William Derry (Sr.), Raymond, Sanford M., and Melvin A.

Zaida, who was was eighteen months older than her brother George, married Bill May. George married Alice Johnson. Raymond was born with spina bifida and lived only a few days. Sanford lived to the age of 68, when he died of emphysema. Melvin married Vivian Daugherty, and they had two children, Madelyn and Vance.

Melvina Derry was not known for being a kind woman, but her husband Arthur was one of the nicest man you'd ever want to meet.

She was a very devout Morman of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints. When she died, she left her foot pedal reed organ to the church in Clearwater, Nebraska. (The sound was made by pushing in the pedals with your feet and then playing the keys. ) Her funeral in 1952 was held in the same church in Elgin that Arthur Derry's was held in 1937.

Last updated: July 2008