Della Ruth (McGee) McNalley, 81, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on Friday, November 23, 2018 at Cedarwood Health Care Center in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado.  She was under the care of Adobe Hospice, after struggling with a decade long illness. 
 
Della was born to Mildred Lovon McDougal and Kelsie Gilbert McGee on February 6, 1937 in Cowlake, Jackson County, Arkansas.  She married, Kenneth S. McNalley on December 27, 1956 in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. 
 
Born in farm country, Della was reared in the hot sun… an actual “cotton-picker”.  With dreams of a different life, after graduating from Beedeville High School, she relocated to Little Rock where she met and married a soldier, some fella that admired her in a movie theater.  She was off to explore the world, where new adventures awaited.  Various stations were in her future; Indiana, Oklahoma, London, until the final station in Colorado where her husband retired at Ent Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.  She and her family made their residence in El Paso County, Colorado (Falcon and Colorado Springs), where she remained until her death. 
 
She became a Christian in 1974 when baptized, along with her daughters Lyn and Carol, at Eastside Church of Christ in Colorado Springs, CO.  Her love for the Lord strengthened as she felt God calling her home and she was embraced in the loving arms of many fellow Christians from Eastside during her final days, for which she was grateful. 
 
Della was an avid reader, devouring each book as if it were her connection to great fantasies.  As her health declined, she thoroughly enjoyed the Lifetime Network, ID Channel and Hallmark Channel, all whisking her away to journeys and escaping her pain.  She also loved talking on the phone, hours on end.
 
Della is survived by siblings; Dan (Ann) McGee, Linda (Joal) DeFoor, Patricia (Norman) Miller, Sharon (Joe) Oehrli, Allen McGee and Kathy (Tom) Matthews.  Also surviving are daughters; Lyn McNalley (Charlie) Hinkle, Carol McNalley and step daughter Gilda (Rob) Baxter.  Four grandchildren; Nathan, Joshua, Kendra, David and 10 great grandchildren.
Della was preceded in death by husband Kenneth Sylvester McNalley 1931-1981 (retired Air Force), parents: Kelsie Gilbert McGee 1902-1987, Mildred Lovon McDougal-McGee 1919-2005 and sisters; Lovada May Dix 1923-2018 of Oregon, Edna Louise Dix 1925-2015 of Oregon, Hazel Marie Mahan 1927-2012 of Arkansas, Thelma Bernice Kemp 1930-2002 of Arkansas, Laura Lovon Hanley 1941-2014 of Arkansas. Step-sons: Kenneth McNalley Jr. 1951-2008 of Kansas, Paul McNalley 1955-2008 of Kansas and Wayne McNalley 1956-1986 of Kansas.
 
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 8, 11 A.M. at Eastside Church of Christ (room #121) located at 5905 Flintridge Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80918 and officiated by Eddie White (Senior Minister).