Mildred Lavon Zerley

Mildred Lavon (Pearson) Zerley passed away June 23, 2019, at the Wesley Life Cottages in Pella. She was born the daughter of Pearl Young Pearson and Mildred Grace (Moore). Lavon was next to the youngest of five children. Lavon accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age. During World War II, she joined a club to donate blood for the soldiers. Lavon met Bernard Zerley at the Marion County Fair in 1946. They were united in marriage Sept. 4, 1949. To this union, three sons were born, Brent in 1952, Blake in 1954 and Barry in 1955. Lavon worked in Awana at the First Baptist Church until she got diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996 and survived 31 years after diagnosis. She also shared her home with missionaries when they came home on furlough. Lavon served on the planning committee of the new Baptist church in 1966 and served as chairperson for the Republican party of Jasper County. She also worked at the Jasper County Treasurers office since she was 18 years old and retired in 1988.

Those left to honor her memory are her two sons, Blake Zerley and Barry (Christy) Zerley of Monroe; and daughter-in-law, Dalene of Scottsbluff, Neb.; five grandchildren, Tiffney of Scottsbluff, Neb., Caitlin Zerley of Waverly, Ill., Brianna of Des Moines, Ethan of Monroe and Dale Hendricksen; three great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents; her husband, Bernard; her son, Brent; one sister, Vera Johnston; and three brothers, Forest, Pearl Jr. and Johnnie Pearson. The family has designated memorials to the First Baptist Church or to the Iowa-Carver College of Medicine.

A celebration of life for Mildred Zerley, 93, of Monroe, was Monday, July 1 at First Baptist Church in Monroe. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Monroe.