Sheley, Melford Jay (1927-2011)

SHELEY, LOOMIS, SORENSON, SHORT, GARREAU, SASKOWSKI, COUGILL, SODERGREN, JASPERING, AHRENHOLTZ, BACON, BAIER, LAWRENCE, KREIE, SHEEDER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/13/2025 at 16:25:11

Melford Jay Sheley
Guthrie Center, Iowa
February 20, 1927 - December 17, 2011

Melford Jay Sheley, 84, son of Fay L. Ruth J. (Loomis) Sheley, was born February 20, 1927 in Shenandoah, Iowa. He passed away Saturday, December 17, 2011 at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center, Iowa. He grew up in Bedford, Iowa and at a young age moved to Guthrie Center where he lived with his father and step-mother Pauline and their family. He returned to Shenandoah, living with his sister, Bea and Linne and their family till he graduated from Shenandoah High School in 1945. He enlisted in the United States Navy on February 17, 1945 at Council Bluffs, Iowa and was sworn in at Des Moines, Iowa. He served in the South Pacific on the ship, LCI L 652. On July 25, 1946, he was discharged at Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal. On August 21, 1947, he married Ethel Sorenson. They lived in Colorado, where their son, Melford Jay, Jr. was born. They returned to Iowa after 1 ½ years. Their family continued to grow in Iowa with the birth of their daughters, Emelie Marjean and Jacquelyn Rae. He spent his entire life as a farmer and was one of the first to breed Brangus cattle in Iowa. He worked for the Soil Conservation Service for 30 years. He was a 50 year member of the American Legion, IOOF, VFW. He was active in the First Christian Church as elder, deacon, board chair, Iowa Beef Breeds Council Iowa Beef Expo as treasurer, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Forage and Grassland Council, American Legion as chaplain, and Soil Water Conservation Society of America.

He is survived by his wife, Ethel, son, Mel (Janice) Sheley of Guthrie Center, daughters, Marjean (Larry) Short of Des Moines, and Jackie (Leo) Garreau of Ames. Five grandchildren, Chad (Deanne) Sheley of Guthrie Center, Casey (Katie) Sheley of Casper, WY, Anglea (Matt) Saskowski of West Des Moines, Sheila (Bill) Cougill of Early, and Josh Sodergren of Des Moines. Step-granddaughters, Tess (Mike) Jaspering and Lisa (Randy) Ahrenholtz. 14 great-grandchildren. Sisters, Bea Nelson of Shenandoah, Sharron (Loren) Bacon of Altoona, Pam Sheley, and Raynette (Ron) Baier of Guthrie Center, and numerous other family friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Pauline Sheley, infant brother Marvin, brother Fred Sheley, sisters, Bonnie Lawrence, Teresa Kreie, and Betty Sheeder. Jay loved spending time with his grandchildren and getting them involved with his love of Brangus cattle. Chad, Casey, and Sheila all had cows of their own and went to numerous cattle shows and won many ribbons. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at the First Christian Church, Guthrie Center. Burial will be in the Monteith Cemetery, rural Guthrie Center. Memorials may be left to: First Christian Church Window Fund, American Legion Post #124, S.A.L. Squadron #124 Building Fund
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Events
Funeral Service
Tuesday, December 20, 2011

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Twigg Funeral Home - Guthrie Center

506 Prairie Street
Guthrie Center, IA 50115

Visitation
Wednesday, December 21, 2011

10:00 am - 10:30 am

First Christian Church

105 N 4th Street
Guthrie Center, IA 50115

Tribute Wall ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 20 Dec 2011.