Gay L. Melby, 68

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Gay Lee Melby, 68, died on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs. She was born on July 20, 1954, in Council Bluffs, to Gaylin and Glenda (Smith) Sisson.  She graduated from Dunlap High School in 1972, and after graduation attended Morningside College. Gay was united in marriage to Clarion Melby on June 9, 1973. The couple settled on a farm outside of Dunlap and were blessed with three children, Alana, Christopher and Daniel. Gay’s focus was on raising her children and later she began working as a Certified Nurse Aide at Dunlap Care Center. She went on to study at Briar Cliff College at Iowa Western and over time obtained her LPN, RN, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. She worked at several area nursing jobs retiring from Rose Vista Home in Woodbine at the age of 65.

Gay was a member of Saved by Grace church where she sang and attended bible study and prayer meetings. She enjoyed playing board games with her grandchildren and great-nieces and nephews, keeping up with friends via facebook and spending time with family.

Gay was preceded in death by her father, Gaylin Sisson; mother, Glenda Benjamin; step-father, Charlie Benjamin; sister, Greta Smith; and brother-in-law, Lynn Smith. She is survived by her husband, Clarion Melby of Dow City; children, Alana and her husband Russ Trimble of West Des Moines, Chris Melby and his wife Tanya of Council Bluffs and Dan Melby and his wife Marcella of Cumming; grandchildren, Jaxon, Tyson, Aaliyah, Ryan, Camden, Jack, Zella and Elodie; siblings, Gina and her husband Ed Green of Dow City; Mary and her husband Kevin Boger of Denison and Don Benjamin and his wife Shannon of Dunlap; and many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023, at Saved By Grace Church in Dunlap. Pastor Gene Kline presided over the service. The musical selections were “I Cannot Tell” by The Girls and Louise Cox, “I Can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me, “Loving My Jesus” by Casting Crowns and “Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkle. The pallbearers were Jaxon Trimble, Tyson Trimble, Ryan Trimble, Erik Smith, Alex Green and Zach Adams. Gay’s final resting place is at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Fouts Funeral Home in Dunlap was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com