Ms. Delores June Daly

Delores Daly, 94, of Columbia passed away Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at her home. Visitation will be 10-11am, Monday, October 2, 2023 at Memorial Funeral Home 1217 Business Loop 70 West Columbia. The funeral service will begin at 11am followed by burial in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Delores was born July 21, 1929 in Lexington, MO to Dallas and Elma Porterfield Amer. Their family moved to the mountains of Colorado when she was a young girl, and at the age of 13, after her mother’s untimely passing, she was pulled out of school to help raise her younger siblings. In her early twenties, she returned to Missouri to teach her aunt how to raise an adopted child.

In 1954, she moved to Columbia, working at Sears and MFA Insurance and became friends with two sisters who introduced her to their brother. She and James Gilbert Daly hit it off immediately and were married on August 19, 1956. They started their family and Delores was a great mom to her five children.

When her kids were all in school, she returned to work as a cafeteria cashier for Columbia Public Schools and the University of Missouri. Because education was very important to her, she took night classes and was very proud when she earned her G.E.D. at the age of 52. She enjoyed traveling across the US and Canada with family and friends and took great joy in recounting the places she saw, the food she shared and the adventures she had. She was a long-time member of Memorial Baptist Church in Columbia.

She is survived by her children, Glenda (Dave) Bono of Fulton, Janie Mills of Columbia, Mary Daly of Columbia, James Daly of Columbia, and Joseph (Kristin) Daly of Jefferson City; six grandchildren, Shelby (James) Mitchell of Mundelein, IL, Sarah (Chris) Adams of Fulton, Gabe Bono of Independence, Katie (Zach) Andrews of Jefferson City, Jared Daly of Jefferson City, and Kara Daly of Jefferson City; two great-grandchildren, Adam and Andrew Mitchell; numerous nieces and nephews and a loving extended family; a wonderful caregiver, Tania Mantle; and a dear friend, Megan Hall.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, James G. Daly on 11/20/2019; her parents; and her siblings, Glenn Amer, Launa Davis, Geraldine Lain, Patricia Lain, Frank Amer, and Richard Amer.

Memorial contributions may be made to Apraxia Kids (apraxia-kids.org), Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland (PO Box 10747 Springfield, MO 65808) and the Central MO Humane Society (616 Big Bear Blvd, Columbia, MO 65202).

Condolences and fond memories may be shared at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com