Ailey, DeWayne Luther

DeWayne Luther Ailey, 82, of Tipton, died Oct. 27, 2009, at his home in Tipton. A gathering of friends will take place Sunday, Nov. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, with a Masonic service being held at 5 p.m. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at First United Church of Christ, Tipton, with Pastor David Lorenzen officiating. Burial will be at Tipton Masonic Cemetery.

Online condolences may be shared at

DeWayne Luther Ailey, son of Luther James and Cora Jeanette Perry Ailey, was born Nov. 12, 1926, in Tipton, Iowa. He was a 1944 graduate of Tipton High School. DeWayne served in the military as a paratrooper. DeWayne married Delores Mae on Dec. 11, 1953, in Davenport. After her death he was united in marriage to Marilyn June Reeve on May 19, 2001, in Lewisburg, Pa.

DeWayne worked as a tractor mechanic at the Ford Garage in Mechanicsville for 20 years and was owner/operator of DeWayne's Flower Shop. He was a member of the Tipton American Legion and Tipton Masonic Lodge.

DeWayne is survived by his wife, Marilyn Ailey of Tipton; stepdaughters, Valerie Traurig of Bethesda, Md., and Kathy Kronicz-Peacock of York Haven, Pa.; stepgrandchildren, Jerad Kronicz and Zachary Kronicz; nephews, Mark Rodgers and Mike Rodgers; and several other nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Delores Ailey on Feb. 1, 1999; brothers, Harry, Paul, Melvin and Raymond Ailey; and sister, Frances Hanneman.

Memorials may be made to First United Church of Christ and/or the Tipton Ambulance.