Delores Menear

Delores Mae Menear “Dee”, age 83, passed away November 17, 2018. She was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Zuella Billie Heyser and Carl Raymond Heyser. She attended Southern High School and Milligan College in Johnson City, Tennessee where she met and married her husband of 61 years John Fredrick Menear “Fred”.

Dee followed Fred to many places during his career. They lived in Greenville, North Carolina; Louisville, Kentucky; Houston, Texas; Walnut Creek, CA and Shelbyville, Kentucky. Dee enjoyed each place she and Fred lived but always considered Kentucky home. She was proud to have roots in the Highland Park area of Louisville and told many stories of the area and her family.

Dee and Fred adopted two children, John Curtis and Melissa Kay, while living in Louisville. She loved raising her children and was a “soccer mom” before soccer moms even existed. She spent many hours carpooling and traveling to sporting events for her children while they were growing up.

Dee was a sports enthusiast. She grew up playing softball and basketball. As an adult she was an avid golfer, tennis, and bridge player. She belonged to and was very involved in Wildwood Country Club (Louisville, KY), Pine Forest Country Club (Houston, TX), and Contra Costa Country Club (Pleasant Hill, CA). She won many awards throughout her years playing golf and tennis.

Dee was outgoing and loved to laugh and make people laugh with her witty sense of humor. She enjoyed sharing a meal with friends and family but didn’t particularly like to cook. She enjoyed shopping for a bargain and decorating her home. She took pleasure in buying gifts and shopped all year long for Christmas and birthdays, making her family laugh because she rarely wrapped the gifts she gave.

Most of all, Dee loved her family. She was a fierce protector, loving, encouraging, and supportive. She loved being a Mom and Grandma and she and Fred were always there to cheer for and support their children and grandchildren in all they did.

Dee was a member of the 2X2 Sunday school class at Southeast Christian in Louisville for many years. Dee is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, John Fredrick Menear “Fred”. She is survived by her son Curtis Menear (Teresa), daughter Melissa Abel (Rick), brother Michael Heyser (Camille) and her grandchildren Richard Joe Abel Jr. (RJ), Shelby Kay Abel and Kasey Marie Abel.

Dee will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her family will miss the joy on her face every time she saw them, her genuine interest in their lives, and the unconditional love and support she always gave. She desired above all, for her family to be happy.

A celebration of Life will be held on Monday, November 26, 2018 at 12:00 pm at Evergreen Funeral home in Louisville, KY. The family will greet family and friends prior to the Celebration of Life at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donating to the Shelby County Humane Society.