Melvin W. Ferry

FERRY, Melvin W., 86, of Louisville, entered into the arms of his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, December 19, 2012. Mel was born in Louisville on May 12, 1926 to Angeline and William Ferry, and was the oldest of six children. Along with his parents, he is preceded in Heaven by his brothers, Gerald, Robert, William and Norbert; and sister-in-law, Sylvia Ferry. Those who are blessed to cherish his loving memory are his wife of 66 years, Anna Faye (Wheatley), who Mel loved dearly; children, Patty Schaffner (Hank), Doug (Sharon), Claudia Rigsby (Darrell), Kevin (Peggy), Julie Ferry, Audrey Schmitt (Mike), Mark (Kathy) and Kelly Ferry (Tonya); sister, Joyce Wesbecker; 18 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Mel was loved by everyone who knew him. He spent his life dedicated tirelessly to helping others. He will be remembered in part for his insightful one-liners, including his famous, “I was tired once.” Mel grew up in Germantown, where he attended St. Elizabeth Grade School. He attended St. Xavier High School and Ahrens Trade School. He worked as a printer for the Brown Hotel and for VG Reed & Sons, Inc. He successfully owned and operated Suburban Printing before joining KY Balfour Company, where he worked for 33 years and retired from the career that he dearly loved. Mel never worked less than two jobs, in loving support of his family. After retirement, Mel fulfilled his lifelong dream, building, with the help of his entire family, a log home in Doe Valley for Faye, Julie and himself, where they lived for 17 years. Funeral mass will be held at 11am Saturday, December 22, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 3705 Stone Lakes Dr., in Jeffersontown, with burial in Louisville Memorial Gardens East on Ballardsville Road. Visitation will be 1-8pm Friday at Owen Funeral Home – Jeffersontown, 9318 Taylorsville Road. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to those at Christopher East Nursing Home, with special thanks to Chrissy, Cori, Zella, Whitney and Polly, who cared so lovingly for Mel. Very special thanks also to the whole Hosparus team, and Rafael in particular, with whom the family was blessed to share the sacred moment of Mel’s passing. Mel’s family asks that expressions of sympathy be sent to the Great Kentucky and Southern Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “All this and heaven too…”