Myrtle "Mert" De Vos, age 89, of Orange City, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

Myrtle Arlene, the daughter of Cornie and Clara (Baker) Houtsma, was born on August 15, 1934, in Ashton. She grew up in the rural Maurice and Orange City areas and attended public school. After graduating from the Orange City High School in 1951, Mert worked for several years as a telephone operator in Orange City.

She was married to Herman John De Vos on June 11, 1957, at the American Reformed Church in Orange City. They made their home and started their family in Sioux Center, before moving to Orange City, where they raised their three children. Once all of the kids had started school, Mert began working at the Sears and later at the Montgomery Ward catalog stores, both in Orange City. She eventually began selling Avon products in the area, which she did for more than thirty years, earning numerous awards and making countless friendships along the way. After more than 59 years of marriage, "Herm" passed away on July 1, 2016, in Orange City. Shortly after the death of her husband, Mert moved to Ventura, to live with her daughter, and in March of 2022, she became a resident of the Oakwood Care Center.

Mrs. De Vos was currently a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Orange City and a former member of the Trinity Reformed Church and the American Reformed Church, both in Orange City. She was blessed with the gift of hospitality and looked forward to spending time with her customers and friends, many of whom were homebound. Mert enjoyed collecting turtles and had an extensive collection of home décor made from copper. She also liked to travel, and she and Herm were able to see much of the country on their motorcycle. After her grandson, Myles De Vos, passed away in 2002, Mert wrote and published the book entitled No Wheelchairs in Heaven, sharing his story of living with Muscular Dystrophy and the inspiration he gave to all those around him.

She will be deeply missed by her three children and their spouses, Valerie and Keith Imhoff, of Ventura; Jeff and Tammy De Vos, of Hot Springs, South Dakota; and Brad and Valerie De Vos, of Orange City; eleven grandchildren, Joseph Simmelink, Allison Frederick, Chuck (Britt) Bangert, Jamie (David) Svoboda, Travis (Jenna) Imhoff, KC (Chelsea) De Vos, Nicole (Josh) Thompson, Kayla De Vos, Bobbi Imhoff, Kaley (Tim) Becker, and Holly (Chris) Starkenburg; twenty great-grandchildren; a sister, June Huizenga, of Worthington, Wisconsin; three sisters-in-law, Jane Den Ouden, of Seney; Alice "Nupe" Jeltema, of Orange City; and Nel De Gooyer, of Maurice; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, husband, and a grandson, she was preceded in death by a sister and her husband, Alice and Palmer McKinzie; and six brothers-in-law, Alan Huizenga, Jack (Dolly) De Vos, Marv (Geneva) De Vos, Casey Den Ouden, James Jeltema, and Donald De Gooyer.

Funeral Service: 09 February 2024 - First Christian Reformed Church - Orange City, Iowa

Officiant: Rev. Jordan Helming

Interment: West Lawn Cemetery - Orange City, Iowa

Arrangements: Oolman Funeral Home - Orange City, Iowa

Source: Oolman Funeral Home