Jerry Ann Ashby, 84, of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Morrison, IL, died Thursday, May 13, 2021, at Springdale Village in Mesa.
Jerry Ann was born October 30, 1936, in Dixon, IL, to Jerry W. and Ruth Ann (Paith) Meakins. She was educated in Morrison Schools and was a graduate of Morrison High School. She also attended Highland Community College, where she graduated in 1972, and also attended Shimer College and Northwestern Illinois University. On September 19, 1954, she married Donald R. Ashby. They resided in Savanna, IL, until 1972 when the family moved to Thomson, IL. After the death of Donald in 1998, Jerry Ann continued spending winters in Apache Junction, AZ, where she met and married Milford Darr Olson on October 2, 1999. Jerry Ann taught Outdoor Education Pioneer Skills at Taft Campus in Oregon, IL, in 1984, and she was employed for eight years at Warren Cheese Plant as a Sales Representative and did marketing until retiring in 1999. She also enjoyed working at several newspapers including Carroll County and QuadCity Times under the byline “Miles to Go by Jerry Ashby,” which specialized in tourism and human interest stories. She was a 50-year member of the Girl Scouts, starting as a Brownie. After being a girl member, she became an adult volunteer leading troops of Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors for many years. She worked for ten years as a professional Girl Scout Field Director and Public Relations Director for Green Hills Girls Scout Council in Freeport, IL. She was a member of the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Savanna, IL.
Survivors include daughter, Valareena DeSpain of Thomson; son, John Lyle (Kelly Bethard) Ashby of Apache Junction, AZ; four granddaughters, Angela (Joe) Taylor of Thomson, Carrissa (Tommy) Groen of Highland, IN, August Ashby of Chicago, IL, and Audrie Ashby of Freeport; five great-grandchildren, Aidan Taylor, Lucas Groen, Savanna Groen, Hayley Groen, and Johnathon Groen; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Donald Ashby and Darr Olson; brother, Alan Ray Walters.
Cremation rites have been accorded.
A Memorial Mass service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 25, 2021, at Church of St. Anne-Episcopal in Morrison, IL, with Rev. Father James Brzezinski, Pastor of Church of St. Anne-Episcopal, officiating.
The Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison, IL.
A memorial has been established to White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Morrison, IL.