Obituary of Nina Melroy

IN LOVING MEMORY OF NINA M. MELROY Nina Marjorie (Severns) Melroy was born on the 19th of July, 1911 in a farmhouse northeast of Norton to Orin E. and Ida (Wetzler) Severns. Nina was the middle child of 11 children born to Orin and Ida. Nina attended rural grade school, graduating from the 8th grade from the Morning Star school district #10. She attended Norton High School for 1 year. After sitting out because of financial reasons, she resumed her education at Almena Rural High School, graduating in 1930. She attended Normal School in Hays, Kansas and received a teaching certificate. Nina also attended the Colby Community College. She taught school at Cracker Box, Pleasant Ridge, and Bunty in the Norton County School system. She then worked for the Seymour Packing Co. cleaning and preparing chickens for shipments. She married Bernard Leo Melroy on the 29th of November, 1934, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Norton, Kansas. Nina worked a short time for a family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Bernard and Nina rented a farm at Reager, Kansas and worked at the Kansas State Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Norton, Kansas. In 1939 they moved and farmed Norton of Norton until his death on the 10th of February, 1961. To this union two children were born: Thomas Orin "Tom" Melroy of Norton, Kansas and Janice Ann (Melroy) Henson married to her husband Frank of Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania. Nina is the proud grandmother of four grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. Nina was a member of the Saint Francis of Assisi Parish and is a member of the Saint Francis Society. She belongs to the Legion of Mary, American Legion Women's Auxiliary, VFW Women's Auxiliary and the Norton County Senior Center. While being a homemaker and a farmer's wife, she was a member of the Harmony Homemakers HDU. She and neighbors (William & Leta Donovan) were very instrumental in organizing the Busy Jayhawkers 4-H Club. She was an adult leader for the club for many years and even after her children were no long in 4-H, she was very involved in the activities of the club. Nina was active in PTA while her children were in school. She was a room mother, chaperoned school events and proms. Nina attended school sports events. Nina helped with Girl Scouts, FHA, and FFA when her children belonged. Before and after the death of her husband, she was employed at the Norton Cleaners. She then worked at the Kansas State Sanatorium until its closing. She worked for several years at the Safeway Store. She then worked for the Kansas State Hospital at Norton until her retirement in 1987. She also worked at the Dairy Queen, Frontier Café, Lucky Strike Grill, and the Andbe Home. Following her retirement she enjoyed traveling to Alaska several times to visit her daughter and her husband and granddaughter. She was an avid walker and covered many miles with this pastime. She put in many hours of volunteer work at her church, Norton County Senior Citizens, and the Andbe Home. ROSARY SERVICE – Friday, March 27, 2015—8:00 PM PLACE – St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church – Norton, KS MASS OF THE CHRISTIAN BURIAL – Saturday, March 28, 2015—10:00 AM PLACE – St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church – Norton, KS INTERMENT – Norton Cemetery – Norton, KS MEMORIALS – Nina Melroy Memorial Fund FRIENDS MAY CALL – at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Norton on Friday, March 27, 2015—2:00 – 6:00 PM