Deb Smith

Debra “Deb” Smith, age 63, of Melbourne, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home on the morning of Wednesday, August 4th, 2021 while in care of her family and the Iowa River Hospice.          Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 12th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with Tom Hogan of the Ridgeway United Methodist Church in Ridgeway, MO. officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Bethel Grove Cemetery south of Liscomb. Her last ride will be provided by her “favorite nephew” John Royark in his 1949 hearse. Visitation will be held from 5-7:00 p.m. Wednesday.  Memorials may be directed to her family. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com . Ph. 641-844-1234.    For those unable to attend, services will be available at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/ .       Born Debra Royark on July 13th, 1958, in Marshalltown, she was the daughter of Alonzo and Florence (Fisher) Royark.          Deb was married to William Meling, and to that union was blessed with seven children. On April 13th, 1996, at the United Church of Christ in Marshalltown, she was united in marriage to Thomas Bradley “Brad” Smith. They shared 25 wonderful years before her passing. They were members of the Ridgeway United Methodist Church in Ridgeway, MO.          Debra was a person of strong work-ethic. She was employed at Bennie’s Café, Cissy’s in State Center, Wells-Fargo Security, Blunt Trucking, and retired as assistant manager at Wal-Mart after 11 years of dedicated service. She has called Newton, Marshalltown, State Center and for the past 15 years, Melbourne, home. She enjoyed her grandchildren, fishing, quilts, cross-stitch and cooking her signature dishes- scalloped potatoes and chicken.          Left to cherish her memory are Brad, her loving husband of 25 years; her children: Darrel (Katie) Meling of Newton, Rob (Alanna) Meling of Marshalltown, Mark Meling, Brian (Emily) Meling, Eric Meling and Matt Meling all of Melbourne and Cory Meling (Jess Corns) of Garwin; as well as four grandchildren; sisters Diane and Lori in Texas; brother Richard in Minnesota and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.          In death, Debra rejoined her parents, her brothers: John, Jim and Tony, as well as nephew Jimmy and many aunts, uncles and cousins.