Eunice Marie Power, Eunice Marie Power

Eunice Marie Power, 81, of Rushville, Neb., died July 24, 2013, at her home in Rushville of cancer.

Eunice was born Jan. 24, 1932, in Manchester, Iowa, the first of 10 children born to Frances “Marie” (Meyers) and Edwin Mellody of Manchester. During her high school years and beyond she was employed at Groves Pharmacy in Manchester. Eunice married Gene “Porky” Power on Jan. 19, 1954, and they had two daughters, Kathy (Thomas) and Connie (Graziano), both from Rushville, Neb.

Eunice and Porky moved in 1961 to Marion, Iowa, where they resided for many years. Eunice worked for May's Pharmacy and then she and Porky owned and operated Porky's Tap and Grill in Central City for a number of years. In the early 1970s, they found their way to Denver, Iowa, to own and operate the Rite Spot. Upon the sale of the Rite Spot, they returned to Marion and then retired in Zapata, Texas.

Eunice will forever be remembered as one of the strongest women a person could know. Her work never seemed to be done. She was the backbone of her family to her brothers and sisters and was more of a mother to all nine of them after the death of their father when Eunice was 19, and the youngest sibling 2 years old.

Her ultimate joy in life were her two daughters, four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was always a loyal friend to those who knew her.

Eunice is survived by her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as follows: daughters, Kathy (Thomas) and Connie (Graziano), both of Rushville, Neb.; her grandson, Sam Schmitz (Krista) of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; granddaughter, Kelli Alcorn (Jason) of Hay Springs, Neb.; grandson, Will Thomas (Christina) of Redlands, Calif.; and granddaughter, Dianna Schmitz (Josh Fedele) of Rapid City, S.D. Her great-grandchildren are Clayton and Lillian Schmitz and Venice Fedele of Rapid City, S.D., Maddux and Sullivan Schmitz of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Jase and Tyler Alcorn of Hay Springs, Neb. She is also survived by her sister, Carol (Ronnie) Carlson of Cedar Rapids; her brothers, Donnie (Carolyn) Mellody of Manchester, Jerry (Sharon) Mellody of Charles City, Harold Mellody of Cedar Rapids and Mike (Judy) Mellody of Dubuque; her brother-in-law, LJ Schemmel of Farley; sister-in-law, Linda Mellody of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gene “Porky”; her grandson, Tony Schmitz; her parents; three brothers, Bobby, Clair and Denny Mellody; and her sister, Norma Schemmel.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations/memorials be made to Camp Courageous, PO Box 418, Monticello, IA 52310.

A memorial service will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Rushville, Neb., at the Methodist Church. A graveside service will be in Manchester, Iowa at Oakland Cemetery on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m.

Published July 27, 2013 in The Gazette