Obituary of Stella Harpole Derry

Stella V. Derry 1930 – 2012 Stella V. (Harpole) Derry, 82, longtime St. Maries area resident, died November 16, 2012 at St. Maries after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's with her family by her side. Stella was born October 6, 1930, to Nick and Pearl (Hurn) Andrews at Beck, OR. She grew up in Mapleton, Oregon along the Siuslaw River and graduated from Elmira High School with the class of 1948. She married Melvin Harpole on September 12, 1948 at Elmira. They made their home in Veneta, Oregon where she was a homemaker and raised her family. The family moved to Calder, Idaho in 1962 where she and Melvin continued to raise their children. Here, Stella worked as a teacher's aide for the Calder School. She also volunteered for the Calder QRU and St. Joe Valley Search and Rescue, and she worked for many years as a cook for Sindt Logging camps. She was renowned for her cooking skills, especially her homemade bread and cinnamon rolls. Stella was divorced in 1984 and remained close with Melvin until his death the following year. She married Lewis "Butch" Derry on June 27, 1986 at St. Maries. They enjoyed camping, fishing, traveling to the Oregon coast and eating at restaurants. Stella played piano and accordion. She also enjoyed working in her garden and canning what she produced. She relished time with her grandchildren. Stella was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the St. Maries Eagles Auxiliary. Stella is survived by her husband Butch at the family home. Also surviving are her sons and daughters-in-law Randy Harpole and Carol Martin of Calder; Mark and Crys Harpole, and Doug Harpole of St. Maries; step-son and wife Loren Derry and Jamie Drew of Fernwood; her daughters and sons-in-law Linda and John Whitehead, and Suzy and Eddie Epler of St. Maries; Rhonda Jones of Rathdrum; and step-daughter and husband Laura and George Bailey of Richland, Washington. Also surviving are her brother and sister-in-law Henry and Joyce Sindt of St. Maries, and her sister and brother-in-law Violet and Rich Dunn of The Dalles, Oregon. Stella is survived by 15 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. Stella was preceded in death by brothers John and Nicky Andrews and Oliver Sindt as well as sisters Kitty Ream, Betty Noice, Doris Sindt, Opal Ware, Anna Zollo and Alice Keeler. She was also preceded in death by granddaughter Jennifer Whitehead. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, November 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in St. Maries with Rev. Parker McNeill officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, with a gathering of family and friends afterward at the St. Maries Eagles Lodge. The family suggests memorials to the St. Maries Sr. Meal Site. Visit her online memorial at www.hodgefuneralhome.com Read Stella Derry's Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.