Roberta 'Kay' (Ryan) Melton

Roberta “Kay” Melton, daughter of the late Paul L. and Hazel (Turgon) Ryan, was born on October 8, 1936 in Mtn. Grove, Missouri and passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at her residence near Mtn. Grove, Missouri. She was 75 years of age.
Kay grew up and attended school in Mtn. Grove. At the age of fourteen, Kay’s dad, Paul, married Mildred McCulley on July 5, 1951. She was like a mother to Kay. In April of 1956, Kay had a son, James Kirk “Jim” Ryan.
She was united in marriage to Trafford Cooper in November of 1957. One child was born to this union.
On December 13, 1969, Kay married Billy Gene Melton. Bill brought two daughters, Leslie and Deanna to this union.
Kay worked several years at the Brown Shoe Company in Cabool, Missouri.
Kay loved the outdoors, tending to her beautiful flower gardens each year. She loved the sound of nature. She always kept the hummingbirds well nourished. On the weekends, Kay and Bill would go fishing at area lakes. They brought the fish home and they would have fish fries for their family and friends. They also enjoyed weekly card games with their friends.
Kay loved to cook holiday dinners for her family. She was well known for making the best pies in town.
Kay was known for being very neat. Whether in her appearance, her yard, her house, or her vehicle. She enjoyed keeping things tidy around her.
She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was always willing to help out by taking care of her grandchildren, whom she loved very much. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband: Bill Melton on November 5, 2005; an infant son: Roger Allen Cooper; a granddaughter: Jamie Ryan; and by one infant great-grandson.
She is survived by her son : James Kirk “Jim” Ryan and his wife, Rhonda; two daughters: Leslie Malam and her husband, Chet, of Houston, Missouri and Deanna Jackson and her husband, Jeff, of Willow Springs, Missouri; one brother: Karl Ryan and his wife, Billie, of Houston, Missouri; one sister: Norma Borthwick from Senatobia, Mississippi; eight grandchildren: Cash McGowan, Tyler Ryan, Dallas McColgin, Tim Jackson, Amber Jackson, Stephanie Chaney, Rebecca Malam and Cheston Malam; seven great-grandchildren: Noah McColgin, Chandler McColgin, Lane McColgin, Braidyn Spillers, Keiden Wiese, Hailey Ryan, and Turner McGowan; several nieces; nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.


Funeral Service: Monday,
February 6th at 2:00 PM
in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel.

Visitation: Sunday, February 5th

from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
in the funeral home.

Burial: Hillcrest Cemetery