Marlene M. Meckley, 89, formally of Baxter, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, at North Naples Hospital in Naples, Fla. Per the wishes of Marlene and her family, cremation rights have been accorded. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial funds are being established and may be directed to the family for later designation. Anderson Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of Marlene and her family.
Marlene was born Jan. 3, 1932, in Marshalltown, to Lewis and Robina (Johnston) Miller. Her father passed away when she was one year old and Robina later married Raymond Holtsclaw. She graduated from Baxter High School. Marlene married Richard H. Meckley Aug. 27, 1950, in Newton. They farmed west of Baxter and in 1954 moved to a farm south of Melbourne, where they continued to farm and raise livestock. Rich and Marlene wintered in Naples, Fla., where two of their children, Marsha and Kevin, lived. Eventually they bought a home in Bonita Springs, Fla., and retired from farming and lived there full time.
Marlene was a homemaker, wife and mother, raising four children, gathering eggs and helping Rich on the farm. Marlene was blessed with a beautiful voice and she sang in the church of choir and at various weddings and funerals. She sang in the Sweet Adeline Choir for several years. She was a member of the Baxter Congregational Church of Christ. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening and loved her flowers, especially orchids. She had many growing and blooming at her Florida home.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Marsha (Bruce) Dee of Naples, Fla., Resa (Tom) Malloy of Rhodes, Greg (Joni) Meckley of Melbourne and Kevin (Diana) Meckley of Bonita Springs, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Christine (Joe) Reyes of Ft. Myers, Fla., Kelly (Meredith) Dee of Naples, Fla., Jamie (Karen) Malloy of Des Moines, Marty (Erica) Malloy of State Center, Andy (Laura) Meckley of Orion, Ill., Josh (Rachel) Meckley of Baxter and Cole Meckley of Bonita Springs, Fla.; and 11 great-grandchildren, Ryan and Haley Dee, Cassidy Reyes, Rylan and Kennedy Malloy, Garrett and Keira Malloy, Kayden and Elliott Meckley and Canon and Hudson Meckley. She was preceded in death by her parents; Raymond; and her husband, Rich.