TEWKSBURY: Vesta G. Darby, age 87, a lifelong resident of Tewksbury, died Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at the Fairhaven Nursing Home in Lowell, following a lengthy illness.
Born in Tewksbury on October 9, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Homer L. and Myrtle (Mooers) Darby.
Ms. Darby attended Tewksbury schools.
She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Tewksbury.
Ms. Darby worked for over 30 years as a grower in the wholesale and retail flower industry.
She was employed by Garland Flowers, a former Tewksbury distributor of F.T.D. flowers and later with Lee’s Greenhouse Company formerly of West Tewksbury.
According to her family, Ms. Darby preferred a simpler mode of transportation and rode her horse to work everyday.
Ms. Darby was a former member of the Middlesex County 4-H Club’s Boots and Saddles and Hay Shakers organizations. In addition, she was a former member of the Methuen Grange.
Ms. Darby enjoyed working outdoors, riding and caring for her horses and tending to her garden.
She is survived by one son, David Jelley and his wife Ruth of Hudson, NH; two grandchildren, Pam Dawkins of Hudson, NH and Stephen Jelley of Munroe, NC; one great granddaughter, Brittny Loulakis of Hudson, NH; two sisters, Irma E. Peatman of Andover and Marilyn G. Gemmell of Tewksbury; also many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Ms. Darby was the sister of the late Thelma M. Darby, Norma L. Lawson, Merwyn K., Vernon H., and Floyd K. Darby.
Calling hours Friday, January, 12th, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral services Saturday, January 13th, at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church, 1500 Andover St., Rte. 133, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church, 1500 Andover St., Tewksbury, MA 01876 are requested.