1930 - 2012

Stella V. (Harpole) Derry, 82, longtime St. Maries area resident, died Nov. 16, 2012, in St. Maries after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s with her family by her side.

Stella was born Oct. 6, 1930, to Nick and Pearl (Hurn) Andrews at Beck, Ore. She grew up in Mapleton, Ore., along the Siuslaw River and graduated from Elmira High School with the class of 1948. She married Melvin Harpole on Sept. 12, 1948, in Elmira. They made their home in Veneta, Ore., where she was a homemaker and raised her family.

The family moved to Calder 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, in 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; stepson and wife Loren and Jamie Derry 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 stepdaughter and husband, Laura and George Bailey of Richland, Wash.

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, Ore. Stella is survived by 15 grandchildren, three 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 at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in St. Maries with Rev. Parker McNeil officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, with a gathering of family and friends afterward at the St. Maries Eagles Lodge. Visit her online memorial at www.hodgefuneralhome.com.