Obituary for Myra Joy Mellberg (Simmons)
Myra Joy Mellberg, 74 years young, of Ypsilanti, MI, passed gently from this world, on the morning of August 8th, 2020, after a short illness.
The funeral service will be held 11:00 am at Bethesda Bible Church, 1800 S. Huron, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 with Pastors Leon and Ann Johnson of Bethesda Church will be officiating. Visitation will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at Bethesda Bible Church.
Myra was born in Baton Rouge, LA on April 5th, 1946. She moved with her family from there to Birmingham, AL, Magnolia Springs, AL, Foley, AL, Silverhill, AL, Shreveport, LA, and Richmond, VA where she graduated from George Wythe High School in 1964 and continued on to receive a Registered Nursing Degree from Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI.
Myra was married to Raymond Mellberg on December 29th, 1966; they were married fifty-three years.
She worked as a Registered Nurse for a total of forty-three years at the University of Michigan Hospital, Mercywood Psychiatric Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Ford Motor Company Rouge Plant Infirmary in Dearborn, Michigan. Myra enjoyed a variety hobbies and interests including Embroidery, Counted-Cross-stitch, and traveling to many destinations with Ray. All of her family were gifted often with skillful, finely-crafted keepsakes, all which took untold hours of detailed hand-work and an abundance of cross-stitched love.
She was also actively involved in her beloved church of forty-three years, Bethesda Church in Ypsilanti, MI. During her many years of service and love there, she served others as a faithful member, a deaconess, and the Director of Young Children’s Ministry where every child was loved as her own.
Myra was preceded in death by her parents Reverend Curtis and Martha Simmons of Fairhope, AL.
Myra is survived by Raymond Clyde Mellberg her husband; Norma Ann Davis, sister, of Delton, MI; Harold Robert (Bob) Simmons, brother of Foley, AL; David Ledbetter Simmons of Fairhope, AL; many loving nephews and nieces, great-nephews and grand-nieces, whom each and every one was special to her. She cared deeply for each and every one. Also, so many dear friends will miss her ready smile and gentle touch.
Starting when a small child, Myra was a lover of animals, especially dogs and cats. She could have been considered a dog whisperer as she was known to walk up to a growling dog, pat it’s head, offer a little sweet talk and turn the growl to a wagging tail. She could do the same with children and adults. She was all the more a people lover, a care-giver, a peace-maker, a soul-soother, and a prayer-warrior. If you were ever loved by her, you were always loved by her, If she ever called you friend, she would always call you a friend. But as the true Southern-born lady that she was, and as gracious as any, she could also be formidable when she needed to be, standing up for family and friends. Never mean, but strong. Never cross, but steadfast. These traits she inherited from her mother.
For more than five decades she loved her husband Ray about as much as any human could love. They were best friends, fire-side buddies, travel companions, culinary side-kicks, animal-caring teammates, and God-loving mates. A perfect pair. A pair of one.
She and her brothers and sister have always had a close relationship having all been raised in a loving home. Her sister Norma was her “besty”. Myra loved family! She and Ray were part of many energetic family gatherings full of laughter, multiple conversations at once, good food, and the telling of old family stories. As the years pass, these stories have become a sweet thing, a badge to mark a good life, a testament to family. Of course, the stories may have become a little embellished over time, but still recounting good times and bad… mostly good. As siblings, some of these stories involved the four of us learning how to become human adults… like Bob climbing a tree and David hiding under the bed when Norma was left in charge when Dad and Mom were away, or Bob sticking his finger in Norma’s fresh birthday cake making her cry, and Myra having enough of Bob’s teasing and throwing a brick at him with a bull’s eye hit, right in the head! Quite a throwing arm for a seven year old girl. Then there was the time David captured a full Mason jar of rain frogs, dozens of frogs, and put them between the sheets of Myra’s bed, and waited, waited, waited, for her to go to bed. But, in spite of ourselves, with Dad and Mom’s help we turned out okay.
Myra asked recently about things our Mom used to say, to use in one of her projects. Mom said a lot of things; a lot of good things. One thing Mom did say was, “Everything will all be alright.” She said that a lot. She was right, even in this, everything… will be alright.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Bethesda Bible Church, 1800 S. Huron, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.
The funeral service will be held 11:00 am at Bethesda Bible Church, 1800 S. Huron, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 with Pastors Leon and Ann Johnson of Bethesda Church will be officiating. Visitation will be held at 10:00 am Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at Bethesda Bible Church.
Myra was born in Baton Rouge, LA on April 5th, 1946. She moved with her family from there to Birmingham, AL, Magnolia Springs, AL, Foley, AL, Silverhill, AL, Shreveport, LA, and Richmond, VA where she graduated from George Wythe High School in 1964 and continued on to receive a Registered Nursing Degree from Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI.
Myra was married to Raymond Mellberg on December 29th, 1966; they were married fifty-three years.
She worked as a Registered Nurse for a total of forty-three years at the University of Michigan Hospital, Mercywood Psychiatric Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Ford Motor Company Rouge Plant Infirmary in Dearborn, Michigan. Myra enjoyed a variety hobbies and interests including Embroidery, Counted-Cross-stitch, and traveling to many destinations with Ray. All of her family were gifted often with skillful, finely-crafted keepsakes, all which took untold hours of detailed hand-work and an abundance of cross-stitched love.
She was also actively involved in her beloved church of forty-three years, Bethesda Church in Ypsilanti, MI. During her many years of service and love there, she served others as a faithful member, a deaconess, and the Director of Young Children’s Ministry where every child was loved as her own.
Myra was preceded in death by her parents Reverend Curtis and Martha Simmons of Fairhope, AL.
Myra is survived by Raymond Clyde Mellberg her husband; Norma Ann Davis, sister, of Delton, MI; Harold Robert (Bob) Simmons, brother of Foley, AL; David Ledbetter Simmons of Fairhope, AL; many loving nephews and nieces, great-nephews and grand-nieces, whom each and every one was special to her. She cared deeply for each and every one. Also, so many dear friends will miss her ready smile and gentle touch.
Starting when a small child, Myra was a lover of animals, especially dogs and cats. She could have been considered a dog whisperer as she was known to walk up to a growling dog, pat it’s head, offer a little sweet talk and turn the growl to a wagging tail. She could do the same with children and adults. She was all the more a people lover, a care-giver, a peace-maker, a soul-soother, and a prayer-warrior. If you were ever loved by her, you were always loved by her, If she ever called you friend, she would always call you a friend. But as the true Southern-born lady that she was, and as gracious as any, she could also be formidable when she needed to be, standing up for family and friends. Never mean, but strong. Never cross, but steadfast. These traits she inherited from her mother.
For more than five decades she loved her husband Ray about as much as any human could love. They were best friends, fire-side buddies, travel companions, culinary side-kicks, animal-caring teammates, and God-loving mates. A perfect pair. A pair of one.
She and her brothers and sister have always had a close relationship having all been raised in a loving home. Her sister Norma was her “besty”. Myra loved family! She and Ray were part of many energetic family gatherings full of laughter, multiple conversations at once, good food, and the telling of old family stories. As the years pass, these stories have become a sweet thing, a badge to mark a good life, a testament to family. Of course, the stories may have become a little embellished over time, but still recounting good times and bad… mostly good. As siblings, some of these stories involved the four of us learning how to become human adults… like Bob climbing a tree and David hiding under the bed when Norma was left in charge when Dad and Mom were away, or Bob sticking his finger in Norma’s fresh birthday cake making her cry, and Myra having enough of Bob’s teasing and throwing a brick at him with a bull’s eye hit, right in the head! Quite a throwing arm for a seven year old girl. Then there was the time David captured a full Mason jar of rain frogs, dozens of frogs, and put them between the sheets of Myra’s bed, and waited, waited, waited, for her to go to bed. But, in spite of ourselves, with Dad and Mom’s help we turned out okay.
Myra asked recently about things our Mom used to say, to use in one of her projects. Mom said a lot of things; a lot of good things. One thing Mom did say was, “Everything will all be alright.” She said that a lot. She was right, even in this, everything… will be alright.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Bethesda Bible Church, 1800 S. Huron, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.