Merlene Mills Gentry

New Iberia - Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, December 9, 2016, at Assembly Christian in New Iberia for Merlene Mills Gentry, 81, who passed away on Friday, December 2, 2016, in New Iberia. A gathering of family and friends will be held Assembly Christian, 4201 E. Admiral Doyle, New Iberia, LA, from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Friday. Rev. Paul Neel will officiate. Entombment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery in New Iberia. A wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, Merlene Mills Gentry was born on September 27, 1935 in Gonzales, TX to the late Richard and Maggie May Mills. She was a strong woman and a fighter, but after 18 years, lost her battle with cancer. She was very spiritual and loved her family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, and was an incredible doll maker and cook. She worked as a legal secretary, and was a member of numerous clubs and organizations, but her family was her greatest joy. Her favorite holiday was Christmas because she loved giving to others. . Merlene is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, John Gentry; sons, Rick Gentry and wife Becky of Columbus, OH, Dicky Gentry and wife Annie of Beaumont, TX, Mark Gentry and wife Monica of New Iberia, LA; six grandchildren, Ben Gentry, Ellen Gentry, Amber Gentry, Jonathan Gentry, Ashley Gentry, and Miguel Gentry; and a great-grandchild, Aedan Miller. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Burnice Minear and Opal Leavit; and two brothers, Morgan Mills and Doug Mills. Pallbearers will be Rick Gentry, Dicky Gentry, Mark Gentry, Ben Gentry, Jonathan Gentry, and Miguel Gentry. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Hospice of Acadiana, 301 E. St. Peter St., New Iberia, LA 70560. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.