Mildred Ardyth Meckley

Mildred Ardyth Meckley, 96, of Prairie City, daughter of Albert Young and Beatrice Charls Young, passed away Friday, June 4, 2021, in her home. A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 8 at the Prairie City Church of the Brethren. Burial will follow at Griffis Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 7 at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City. Memorials may be directed to a charity of the donor’s choice and condolences may be left at coburnfuneralhomes.com.

Millie was born June 11, 1924, on the family farm. She graduated from Prairie City High School with the class of 1941. Millie was most noted for her love of farm and Angus cattle. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, she had her own land and operation. The Des Moines Sunday Register and Newton paper wrote articles about her farm in the 1950s because it was unusual in those days. Eventually, she registered her cattle and sold them for breeding and showed them. She continued to have a herd up until her death. She acquired other small jobs along the way including her own restaurant in Prairie City called “Millie’s.” She also loved church and was Sunday school teacher and youth leader for years. Millie married Robert Meckley Aug. 22, 1963, and farmed together. Later in their marriage, they enjoyed wintering in Arizona for 20 some years.

Those left to honor her memory include her stepchildren, Keith (Becky) Meckley and Joyce (Dave) Shanks; four grandchildren, David (Rachel) Meckley, Amy (Jason) Wilson, Scott (Wendy) Meckley and Garret Shanks; nine great-grandchildren, Noah Meckley, Lydia Meckley, Daniel Meckley Ezra Meckley, Carter Wilson, Seth Wilson, Erika Meckley, Brooke Meckley and Luke Meckley. Preceding her death were her parents; husband, Robert Meckley in 1995; and brothers, Howard Young and Harry Young; and sisters, Ruth Young Taylor and Geneva Young Wallace.