Melinda Abernathey
Melinda Abernathey
January 31, 1959 – March 18, 2011
Grinnell, Iowa
Visitation: 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday and with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 Tuesday evening March 22, 2011 at Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday March 23, 2011 at Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell
Melinda “Kay” Abernathey, 52, of Grinnell died March 18, 2011, at her home. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Rev. Susan Sanning, Grinnell Regional Hospice Chaplain, officiating. Honorary bearers are Bill Abernathey, Ted Abernathey, Dennis Battaglia, Robert Bullock, Bill Carlton, Bill Downs, Mike Groves, Brett Lakose, Craig Mott, Scott Sieck, and John Walker. Visitation will be held from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Smith Funeral Home and with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 Tuesday evening. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Melinda Kay Abernathey Memorial Fund.
Kay was born January 31, 1959, in Grinnell, Iowa, the daughter of Delores May Clubb. She was raised in Grinnell and was a 1977 graduate of Grinnell High School.
After her education, she began her career at Grinnell Mutual Re-Insurance Company, most recently as a business analyst. Part of her identity was her devotion to her work, which she loved and she took great pride in being a valuable employee at her company.
Kay was a very caring person and enjoyed doing things for others. She loved her grandchildren and sharing her time with them. She enjoyed sewing, drawing, arts and crafts, shopping, and camping, particularly at Rock Creek Lake and Diamond Lake. She loved traveling and put in a lot of miles traveling throughout the southeast and southwest part of the country. She also loved collecting horse figurines and pictures. She was active for several years playing volleyball and bowling.
Survivors include two daughters, Stacy Bullock of Hebron, Illinois and Ashley Lakose of Grinnell; her best friend, Bill Abernathey of Waterloo; four grandchildren, Micaela, Destany, Madyson, and Faith; five sisters, Cindy Downs of Montour, Pam Mott of Iowa Falls, Jo Carlton of Alexander, Kim Johnson of Grinnell and Kris Sieck of Grinnell; one brother, Richard Clubb of Cedar Rapids; and her two dogs, Kasey and Maggie. She was preceded in death by her mother, Delores Johnson, her step-father, Curtis Johnson; two infant sons, Robert J. and Jaime L. Bullock; and her grandparents, Silias and Irene Holland.
Source: Smith Funeral Homes
