Iola May Drewry

Iola May Melton Drewry, passed peacefully at University Village on September 18, 2016 in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the age of 93.

Iola is survived by her husband, Bernard Drewry, also of University Village, daughter, Peggy Brodersen and her husband Herman of Tulsa, Oklahoma, step-daughter, Bernetta Hefley of Harrison, Arkansas, grandchildren, Cassandra Brown and her husband Trent of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Chris Vance and his wife Chassi of Chapmansboro, Tennessee, John David Hefley of Harrison, Arkansas, great- grandchildren, Carly and Ethan Brown, Tara and Alyssa Hughes, many other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Percy and Mae Bridges, first husband, Eugene Melton, sister, Ruby Lee Glover, and brother, Clifton Bridges who passed before Iola was born.

Iola May "Bridges" Drewry was born on July 8, 1923 on Bull Creek in rural Missouri to Percy and Mae "Bilyeu" Bridges. She graduated from Ozark High School and went on to Missouri State University where she earned a Bachelor's in Elementary Education. Iola married her first husband, Eugene Melton on October 3, 1942. She started teaching and taught for a total of forty years, the last 32 years were spent teaching in Ozark, Missouri. During this time, she and Eugene welcomed their daughter, Peggy. Iola passed her love of teaching down to her daughter, who also received her degree in education. After Eugene passed, Iola found love again and married Bernard Drewry on August 7, 1977.

Iola had many passions in her life. She was an active member of Selmore Baptist Church and later, a member of Northvale Baptist, where she taught Sunday school. She loved taking family vacations every year around the United States, and was called, "The Map Reader." She was in the New Comers Club, which welcomed all the new families to town. Iola kept her mind sharp by doing many activities that included, crossword puzzles, cross stitch, painting, sudoku, bowling league, canasta until she was bored with it and thought it was for dummies, and bridge, where she played to win!

Cremation arrangements entrusted to Schaudt’s Glenpool Funeral Service & Cremation Care. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com