Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 26, at the First United Methodist Church in Grand Junction for Vanita McKelvey, 92, of Jefferson, formerly of Grand Junction.
The Rev. Steve Ransom, pastor of the church, provided words of comfort. Charles Radke was pianist. Honorary casket bearers were Mike McKelvey, Matt LaMere and Eric Canfield.
Casket bearers were Larry Miller, Charles Gunn, Larry and Matt Lepke, and James and Bruce Timmons. Interment was in the Rippey Cemetery.
Vanita Berdyne McKelvey, daughter of Allen and Nelle Waldo Senter, was born Jan. 17, 1919, in Rippey and died Nov. 20, 2011, at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson.
Vanita grew up in Rippey and graduated in 1936 at the age of 16 from Rippey High School. On June 6, 1936, Vanita and Charles Raymond McKelvey were united in marriage at the court house in Jefferson. Raymond and Vanita made their home in Rippey until March 1, 1950, when they moved to Grand Junction.
In 2007 Raymond and Vanita moved to Ever Greene Ridge in Jefferson. Vanita enjoyed gardening and raising animals on the farm. She was the favorite mom to drive the kids around. She also enjoyed bowling.
Vanita was a member of the Greene County Medical Center Auxiliary and was a very active member of the United Methodist Church in Grand Junction.
Vanita was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Robert McKelvey; a brother Veryl Senter and sister-in-law Mildred Senter; a sister, Vivian Engle; and a brother-in-law, Raymond Engle.
Vanita is survived by her husband Raymond; a daughter JoAnn Morris (Doug) of Montana; a brother Vaughn (Doris) Senter of Illinois; six grandchildren, Denise Alonzo (Steve) and Beth Morris of California, Cindy Ott (Matt) of Florida, and Mike McKelvey (Melynda), Mary Anne Canfield (Eric) and Nancy LaMere (Matt), all of Iowa; and 14 great-grandchildren.
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