Mildred Lavon Zerley

Mildred Lavon (Pearson) Zerley passed away on June 23rd, 2019 at the Wesley Life Cottages in Pella, Iowa. The daughter of Pearl Young Pearson and Mildred Grace (Moore). Lavon was next to the youngest of 5 children. Lavon accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age. During World War II, she joined a club to donate blood for the soldiers. Lavon met Bernard Zerley at the Marion County Fair in 1946. They were united in marriage on September 4th, 1949. To this union, 3 sons were born, Brent in 1952, Blake in 1954, and Barry in 1955. Lavon worked in Awana at the First Baptist Church until she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 1996 and survived 31 years after diagnosis. She also shared her home with Missionaries, when they came home on furlough. Lavon served on the planning committee of the new Baptist church in 1966 and served as Chairperson for the Republican party of Jasper County. She also worked at the Jasper County Treasurer’s Office since she was 18yrs old and retired in 1988.


Those left to honor her memory include her sons: Blake Zerley, Barry (Christy) Zerley of Monroe, IA and daughter in law, Dalene of Scottsbluff, NE; 5 grandchildren: Tiffney of Scottsbluff NE, Caitlin Zerley of Waverly, IL, Brianna of Des Moines, IA, Ethan of Monroe, IA and Dale Hendricksen. She has 3 great grandchildren along with several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bernard; her son, Brent; sister, Vera Johnston and 3 brothers, Forest, Pearl Jr. and Johnnie Pearson.


A Celebration of Life for Mildred Zerley, age 93 of Monroe, will be held on Monday, July 1, 2019 at First Baptist Church in Monroe from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Monroe or the University Of Iowa Carver College Of Medicine.