Merry Alliss

Merry Faye Alliss , 77, passed away peacefully at Bickford of Urbandale on September 2, 2024.   Visitation will be held at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Adel Chapel (735 South 14th) on September 11, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at the Adel United Methodist Church (115 South 10th St) at 11:00 a.m. on September 12, 2024 with luncheon to follow at the church.  Burial will be at the Franklin Township cemetery (Cooper, Iowa) at a later date.

Merry was born in Jefferson, Iowa on September 2nd, 1947 to Don and Vida Thorpe.  She attended Jefferson High School graduating in 1965.  She was raised on the family farm in rural Greene county and although she later became a “city girl” she celebrated her rural roots with frequent trips back “home” to the family farm to hunt for mushrooms and enjoy homemade ice cream and sweet corn.

She married Donald Alliss on August 13th, 1967 and they celebrated 57 years together making homes in Des Moines, Adel, Palm Bay Florida, and finally in Windsor Heights.

In 1971 and 1977 they added sons Vincent and Justin to their union.   After that, their home was never quiet with Merry and Don welcoming  friends over to eat, spend the night, or just enjoy the company.  Friends were treated as family and occupied a special spot in her heart.

Merry loved to decorate and remodel and no project was ever quite finished.   She enjoyed gardening with Don and shopping for antiques with friends.  She was a great cook and family dinners won’t be the same without her deviled eggs and potato salad.

Vince’s wife Adriana and Justin’s wife Rachel became daughters with seven grandchildren to follow.

Merry is survived by her husband of 57 years Don Alliss;  sons, Vincent (Adriana) and Justin (Rachel); and grandchildren, Abner, Ali, Kady, Keira, Lexi, Jasper, and Libby.  She is also survived by her sister Connie Pegg; and brothers Tom (Dorothy) Thorpe and Fred (Tonya) Thorpe as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Merry is preceded in death by her parents and in-laws, as well as her brother-in law, Ed Pegg, niece, Carrie Thorpe, and nephew, Derek Thorpe.

Special thanks to the nurses and staff at Bickford of Urbandale and EveryStep Hospice for their care of Mom as she completed her journey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Pink Tractor Foundation “Bringing Families Together to Fight Cancer”  pinktractorfoundation@gmail.com 3845 G50 Highway, St. Charles, Iowa 50240 or to the Adel United Methodist Church.