Barbara Derby

Barbara Lee (McCoy) Derby, 89, passed away on Sunday, July 30 at St. Catherine Hospital in Dodge City, Kansas. She was born to Mildred (Loucks) and Angus Crawford McCoy on March 20, 1934 in Copeland, Kansas. She married George Colyear “Bud” Derby on November 4, 1950 in Tucumcari, NM. They later divorced.

Barbara began her employment as a telephone operator, then stayed at home to raise her four children, acting as Cub Scout den mother, assisting with hearing exams at Sublette Grade School, and giving art lessons to children in her home. She enjoyed drawing and oil painting.

She was secretary for Geiss Irrigation in Sublette, then moved to Dodge City and began work for Curtiss Industries. Later she went to Ulysses News as teletype setter and ad designer, finding her niche in outside sales, calling on businesses selling ads. She served as Editor for Haskell County Monitor Chief; and worked for Feist Publications in outside sales for ads for the Yellow Pages.

She is survived by her four children, Jorja Kelley and husband Rod of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Steve Derby of Kansas, Dena Whisler and husband Ron of Satanta, KS, and Jerra Unruh and husband Stanley of Sedan, NM; 12 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; a sister, Marian Shaw and husband Milton of Wichita KS; and brother, Robert McCoy and wife Sharon of Copeland, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Angus “Mac” and Mildred McCoy; a sister, Patsy McCoy Witt; a brother, Leon Loucks; her husband of 18 years, George “Bud” Derby; and her grandson Andrew Scott Unruh.

There are no services scheduled and cremation has taken place.

Memorial contributions can be made payable to Haskell County Museum in care of Weeks Family Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 1200, Sublette, KS, 67877.