Obituaries

Vivian “Beth” Melton was born in Sherman, Texas on July 13, 1925 to Henry N. Jackson and Nettie (Anderson) Jackson. She passed away in Oklahoma City, OK on February 1, 2015 after an extended illness. Her family will receive friends from 7:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 4th, at Dannel Funeral Home. Graveside services are planned for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 5th, in West Hill Cemetery. Rev. Randy Redell will officiate. The youngest of 4 children, Beth grew up in Sherman, graduated from Sherman High School and attended Austin College before transferring to Texas Christian University from which she graduated with a degree in Art Education. Her fondest memories were always of her time growing up in Sherman and she returned “home” many times in person and in spirit throughout her life. She married Albert C. Melton Jr. (A.C.) of Sulphur Springs, TX in 1947. After brief careers as public school teachers, A. C. started a career with Mobil Oil Corporation and Beth became a full-time mother and homemaker. A.C. retired as a Production Foreman from Mobil in 1987 completing a career during which the family was transferred to 7 different towns in 4 states. Beth was too active to fully adopt the role of “stay-at-home” mother. She was an intense volunteer working for Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, Welcome Wagon, and church organizations. Beth and A.C. also became active in the annual reunions of surviving members A.C.’s Company in the United State Marine Corps. The reunions provided the opportunity for extensive travel as well as camaraderie, and Beth continued to be active with the group for many years after his death and hosted the last reunion of the few remaining members of the Company in Oklahoma City. After A.C.’s death in 1990, Beth became active with the hospital auxiliary of Valley View Hospital in Ada, Oklahoma working as a volunteer hostess at the front desk for over 20 years. Beth is survived by her sons, Bob Melton and his wife Fern of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Tim Melton and his wife Tammy, of Fayetteville, Arkansas; grandchildren Phillip Melton of College Park, Maryland, Lindsy Jones and Acacia Jones of Fayetteville, Arkansas; and nieces Marilyn Alexander, and her husband Gill of Achille, Oklahoma and Judyth Scott and husband Fred of Lake Jackson, Texas. The family would like to extend thanks and gratitude to the staff of the Memory Care Facility of Concordia Life Care Community in Oklahoma City for the care and compassion afforded Beth during the years of her residence and to the nurses and staff of Centennial Hospice. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alzheimers Association (www.alz.org) and to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org).