Iva Ferrell

Iva Dell (Haley) Ferrell slipped into Heaven, at her home, on January 23, 2020 at the age of 92.  Iva Dell, the 5th child of Ernest McClellan and Kate Marguerette (Asfahl) Haley, was born on September 7, 1927 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma.  Her family moved to Roswell in August, 1929.  The family stopped outside of Roswell until it was dark, as they did not want anyone to see how little they had.  The family started a food market in 1930, known as the Haley Market on East Second Street.   Iva Dell’s father also sold cars with another gentleman.

When Iva Dell was in the first grade, her responsibility was to wash the breakfast dishes every morning before she left for school.  She had various responsibilities in the family store throughout her school years.   Iva Dell attended school at East Side Grade School, North Junior High, and Roswell High, where she graduated in 1945.  Iva Dell attended college at Bethany Penial College (now Bethany Nazarene University) in Bethany, Oklahoma where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in 1949.  Iva Dell started teaching elementary school in Artesia in 1950.  It was there where she met a very special young man, James W. (J.W.) Ferrell.  They were married June 15, 1954.  She and J.W. moved to Roswell in 1954 where Iva started teaching at Military Heights and later at El Capitan Elementary School.  Iva Dell and J. W. purchased their first home in December 1959 and lived there until their deaths.   J. W. passed away in November of 1980.  Iva Dell retired from teaching 30 years in 1983.  Iva Dell was a very staunch prayer warrior and member of First Church of the Nazarene where she taught Sunday School, Directed the Choir, Directed Children’s Church and many Vacation Bible Schools, sang in the choir, sang solos and helped with many other responsibilities.  Even in the last few years, when it was very hard for her to get out, she very seldom missed a service as she had to support her church and church family. In the last few months of her life she was only able to attend Sunday School and Sunday morning service.  Iva Dell loved children and looked forward to many hugs from the children of the church.  Iva Dell also attended many Family Campmeetings and Ladies Retreats at Bonita Park Campground in Capitan, NM.

Iva Dell was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, J. W.; three sisters:  Juanita Hadder-Kilpatrick, Levita Gauntt, and Wilma Troutman; one sister-in-law, Allene Haley; two brother’s-in-law:  J. R. Gauntt, and Robert Troutman; and two nephews, Loren Hadder and Chris Haley.

Iva Dell is survived by one brother, Virgil Haley and his wife, Lillian, of Roswell; one brother-in-law, Earl Kilpatrick, of Klamath Falls, Oregon; many nieces and nephews who were her special “kids”(as she did not have any children of her own); one cousin, Doris Thornbro, of Roswell;  and her church family, whom she loved dearly.

The family thanks Encompass Health and staff for their excellent care to Iva Dell the last three months of her life. Thank you so much to her caregivers Lucy, Eva and Rosa for their unending love and care this past year. A big thank you to Jim McDevitt for your Sunday afternoon visits. She always looked forward to seeing you.

A memorial service will be held at Roswell First Church of the Nazarene, 501 N. Sycamore Avenue, Roswell, NM on February 29,2020  In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Bonita Park Campground, 200 Bonita Park Road, Capitan, NM, 88316, or Roswell First Church of the Nazarene, Missions Fund, 501 N. Sycamore Avenue, Roswell, NM, 88201.