Luella Fern (Gardner) Meloy went home to her Lord and Savior on Aug. 24, 2026. She was 94.
Luella was born to Mildred Fern (Reese) and Paul Theron Gardner on March 25, 1932, on the family farm in St. Clair County, MO. She and her brother Robert (Bob) attended Ashworth School. She graduated from Faith Bible Academy, a boarding school in Roach, MO, in 1950.
On the happiest day of her life, Luella married John (Bill) F. Meloy on April 14, 1957, in Louisburg, MO. She and Bill raised three children on their farm east of Osceola, living there from 1966 to 2011.
As a young woman, Luella worked at Hannah’s Drycleaning in Osceola and International Shoe in El Dorado Springs. In the 1970s, she served on the local Extension Council. Later, she worked at the St. Clair County Library in Osceola from August 1982 to her retirement in December 2005.
Baptised as a child in Sac River, Luella had a deep faith that comforted her through life’s joys and sorrows. She joined Vista Baptist Church on Jan. 13, 1952, and VBC was the center of her social life. She had a heart for serving the Lord: she taught three generations of children in Sunday School and served as Vacation Bible School teacher and director for decades. Luella was famous for her flannel board Bible stories.
Luella was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, her granddaughter Colleen Wisner, and far too many other family members and close friends. She is survived by her husband, Bill; daughter Lucinda (Cindy) Wisner and husband Curt, son Mark and wife Julie, and daughter Christy Beck and husband Dave; grandchildren Dan (& Shelby), Emma (& Darrek), Marly (& Fred), Jack, and Sabrina; great-grandchildren Hunter, Kyler, Lydia, Truman, Lyla, Deagan, Eden, and Rory; and great-great granddaughter Harper Rose.
Our mother passed from this world as she lived her life, with scripture, prayer, and a hymn. Our hearts are broken only for ourselves, because she is in Glory at last.
Luella loved flowers and missions; the family suggests contributions to Vista Baptist Church for those who wish to honor her in this way.
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