Melva Stanley

October 5, 1934 - July 30, 2012

Melva Jean (Shroyer) Stanley was born October 5, 1934 in Auburn, Nebraska to Melvin and Estle (Green) Shroyer. She was one of two daughters born to this union. Melva Jean attended Bratton Union Consolidated Schools, and graduated as the Valedictorian of her Class of 1952. Upon graduation Jean attended Peru State College for three summers?teaching during the school year at three schools: Lampe School, First School, and Grove School, all of which were in Nemaha County, Nebraska. After teaching, she attended the Lincoln School of Commerce. After graduation from there she began work at the National Cash Register Company in Lincoln. On September 2, 1956 Melva Jean was united in marriage to Charles Richard Stanley, at the Pleasant View Methodist Church, north of Humboldt, Nebraska. This union was blessed with five children: Neil Allen, Sondra Sue, Cindy Lou, Bruce Eugene, and James Lynn. Jean and Richard made their first home south of Howe, Nebraska, later moving to a farm west of Shubert, Nebraska. After a couple years near Steinauer, Nebraska, they moved to their farm home northeast of Stella, Nebraska. Melva Jean was a member of St. Mark?s Lutheran Church near Verdon, Nebraska, and belonged to several organizations there, including The Friendly Neighbor and Project Clubs. She also taught Sunday School for many years. Jean enjoyed playing cards, square dancing, and watching Nebraska volleyball. More than anything she loved attending the activities, sports and otherwise, of her children and grandchildren. Battling cancer and no longer able to stay at her home, Melva Jean moved to the Good Samaritan Society-Auburn in July of 2012. She passed away there on Monday, July 30, 2012 at the age of 77 years, 9 months, and 25 days. Those who preceded her in death were her parents, brother in infancy, father- and mother-in-law Louie and Ella Stanley, and son James at age 9, from congenital heart disease. Those left to celebrate her life are her husband Charles ?Richard? Stanley of Stella; son Neil and daughter-in-law Fara of Omaha; daughters Sondra and son-in-law Steve Westenburg of Auburn; Cindy and son-in-law Don Munchrath of Omaha; son Bruce of Nebraska City; grandchildren Grant, Laura, and Rachel Stanley; Bryce, Brooklyn, and Brynn Westenburg; Taylor and Michaela Munchrath; Kaitlyn and Reagan Stanley; sister Meredith (Don) Grove of Beaver Lake; many other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be Friday, August 3, 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark?s Lutheran Church near Verdon. Burial will be at Prairie Union Cemetery near Shubert. Visitation will be at the funeral home Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends 6:00 to 8:00. Memorials are suggested to the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society or the Richardson County Cancer Fund.