Della D. Croy

Della Doreen Thompson-Croy, 93, of Lee’s Summit, formerly of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and Hamilton, Missouri, was born April 20, 1921, near Pleasant Hill, the daughter of Hobert and Edna Pearl (Small) Milican. She departed this life at 3:20 a.m. Friday, August 22, 2014, at the Wilshire at Lakewood Care Center surrounded with love and family.
Della attended the Pleasant Hill High School; later earning a degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse at the Baptist Memorial School of Nursing in Kansas City.
In 1939 she was united in marriage to Dee N. Parris. In 1970 she married Lee Roy Thompson; he preceded her in death in 1993. In 1995 she was united in marriage to Marshall Croy; he preceded her in death in 2005.
In the late 40’s and early 50’s she was employed as a ranch house cook at the Fenton Dairy Ranch near San Pasqual Valley, California. While in California she served as a missionary to the Hispanic and American Indians in the San Pasqual Valley. In the late 50’s and early 60’s Della owned and operated Dell’s Café in downtown Pleasant Hill Following nursing school she was employed as a LPN for the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Kansas City, and later the Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe. She ended her career as the Caldwell County Health Nurse.
She was an avid and gifted seamstress and loved crocheting, knitting, and quilting. She also loved music and was self taught in playing the piano, banjo, harmonica, guitar, and the accordion.
She was a former member of the Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill, the Hopewell Baptist Church in Cowgill, Missouri, and the Kingsville Baptist Church, Kingsville, Missouri. She had just transferred her membership to the Big Creek Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill.
Della was preceded in death by 5 siblings, Verna Milican, Hobert Milican, Alberta Benware, Johnny James, and Ronnie James.
She is survived by two sons, Ray (and Millie) Parris of Pleasant Hill, and Samuel D. (and Anita) Parris of Lee’s Summit; 4 grandchildren, Diana (and John) Gibson-Smoot of Lee’s Summit, Tammy D. (and Craig) Hydeman of Overland Park, Kansas, Christopher E. (and fiancé Tamara Riendl) Parris of Spring, Texas, and Tina (and Don) Carlile of Red Oak, Texas; eight great grandchildren; one brother Lonnie (and Mary) James of Lebanon, Missouri; two sisters Nyla Parris of Buffalo, Missouri, and Alma (and Homer) Foote of Harrisonville, Missouri; several nieces and nephews; other relatives; and a host of many friends.
Funeral services were held Monday, August 25, 2014, at the Stanley-Dickey Funeral Home, Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Reverend John McRoy will officiate. Interment is in the Strasburg Cemetery. Casket bearers are Caleb Carlile, Don Carlile, Craig Hydeman, Neal Hydeman, Gary Moulder, and Christopher Parris. Honorary casket bearers are Brad Carlile, Lee Gibson, Samuel Harvkey, Hobi Milican, Dennis Prock, Bruce Simms, John Smoot, and Mike Thurman.
Visitation was held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Big Creek Baptist Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home.