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Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Derby, Thelma May
Thelma May Derby, 94, of Sigourney, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at the Washington Care Center in Washington. Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Sigourney United Methodist Church, with the Rev. John Hembry officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Sigourney. Visitation will be from 4 until 8 p.m. Monday at Powell Funeral Home in Sigourney.
Thelma was born Aug. 16, 1915, in Sigourney, Iowa, to Bruce and Appy (Ragan) Derby, and graduated from Sigourney High School. A lifelong resident of Sigourney, Thelma was the Keokuk County Deputy Recorder four years, worked for Harry Snakenberg 10 years, assisted Hazel Hankins 31 years and retired from the Keokuk County Abstract Co. in 1990 after 13 years of employment. She was a member of Sigourney United Methodist Church and a 50+ year member of PEO.
Survivors include nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Cloyd Derby; and two sisters, Cleta Michel and Clela Griffith.
A memorial fund has been established for Hospice of Washington County.
Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Sigourney is caring for Thelma and her family. Condolences may be sent online at under obituaries
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