Jacoba "Cobie" Derryberry

Cobie, as she was lovingly called, was born on January 15, 1943, to her parents; Martinus VanderToolen and Petronella Herbert. The youngest of 10 children. She came to Provo, Utah from Pijnacker, Holland in 1950. When she was a teenager, she lived in Farmington and attended Davis High School. She met her future husband, Jessie, during this time. They would become engaged while he was in the service. However, it would not last. She mailed the rings back to him. Vowing as she did it, “I don’t know when, but I know that I will see you again.”

She married Con Roberts and had her first child, Craig. Their marriage ended in divorce. After some time, as she had anticipated, she reunited with her true love, Jessie Derryberry. Marrying him on June 30, 1964. Together they would live in Hawaii, Georgia, Missouri, and Germany, before finally settling, along with the majority of her family, in and around the Salt Lake area. Residing in their home, in West Valley, which they had built in 1977.

She was a permanent resident of the U.S. However she had a strong desire to obtain her citizenship. Though she would not achieve it until she was well into her retirement, it was a goal that she had for herself, and it was a rewarding and significant accomplishment for her.

Cobie was loving, strong, meticulous, funny, and most assuredly one of a kind! She had a special way of drawing people in. Making many long-term friendships with people who all loved and cared for her very much, as she did them. The joy which she brought to others, is far-reaching and beyond measure. She loved being with her family and going on long drives. She enjoyed art and was a collector of various LDS books. She was a faithful member of the church and an avid Utah Jazz fan. 

Cobie also thoroughly enjoyed watching her grandkids at their respective sporting events. She had attended numerous; wrestling tournaments, swim meets, baseball, football, and basketball games. 

She enjoyed going to the Dutch store, Carol’s Bakery, and taking the nearly 2.5-hour round trip to her favorite restaurant, Maddox. It became a special place to our family due to her affection for it and the lengthy travel time to get there. It was an occasional, yet regular treat for some of us. I would be remiss if I did not mention how much she loved her frozen Cokes from McDonald's!

Her occupation of twenty-plus years, ended when she chose to retire, not too long after losing her husband, in 1994. She was disappointed that they would not realize their lifelong dream of retiring together to travel the world. Which, if dad had his way, would have been done via a fully loaded, touring-style motorcycle with her on the back, or in a sidecar, and little else.

Cobie never wanted to be without Jessie. And though she also did not want to be alone, she would never remarry. It was her incredible strength of spirit, our mutual love as a family, and her desire to continue to care for her posterity, which allowed her to remain here for 30 years after his departure. By doing so, she was able to thoroughly bless the lives of all of those around her. But, most especially, the lives of her three children; Craig (Janet) Derryberry, Teresa (Tracy) Holley, and Tonia (Ken) Hodges. Her eight grandchildren: Dustin (Brianna) Derryberry, Ashley (Tommy) Cole, Kyle Derryberry, Josh Holley, Jessica (Donald) Overbeek, Austin (Daycia) Doussard, Jordan Mortensen (Emilee Bogdan), Dalton Mortensen (Ryland Sloat), Shalyce, Hunter and Darien Hodges, as well as her thirteen great-grandchildren. The youngest of which had arrived nearly one month prior to her passing, and bears her great grandmother’s namesake.

Though I know that there was a part of her that wanted to stay here with us, she quietly longed for her final and eternal reunion with her husband. On April 11, 2024, it seemed decided that their plans, and her desire to be with him, had been altered for long enough.

It was God's pure grace that she closed her eyes for the final time, quietly and peacefully in the arms of her youngest daughter, while spending time with some of her family. Her final hours were spent surrounded by her entire immediate family, many extended family members, and various others whose lives she had touched with her remarkable beauty, warmth, faith, love, and kindness. A tender mercy which she, and those of us she had to leave behind, will be forever grateful for.

We love you, a whole bucketful without a bottom!

Thank you, for all that you did and will continue to do! Your time here on earth will endure through the wisdom in your teachings and the love in your heart. Your influence was boundless and will remain such for generations to come. We were so blessed by you.

See you later, toots!

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 11:00 am. Viewings will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and prior to the funeral services from 9:30 -10:45 am. Both will be held at the Woodledge Ward 4444 South Early Duke Street, West Valley City, Utah Interment will be at Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery 6500 S Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah - next to her beloved husband in their final resting place together here on earth.