A Celebration of Life Service for Melba Best age 88 of Enid will be 10 am Friday, December 4, 2015 at Oakwood Christian Church with Rev. Eric Keller and Rev. Alan Seibel officiating. Burial will follow in the Wakita Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00 -7:00 pm at the funeral home.
Melba was born December 29, 1926 in Alva, OK to Clifford and Esther Wise Mallory and passed away Sunday, November 29, 2015 in St. Mary’s Regional Hospital. She grew up in Wakita and attended Wakita Schools. She worked for Southwestern Bell before she met and married Eldon Best on April 10, 1947 in Enid, OK. She was a member of Oakwood Christian Church, Seekers Sunday School Class, and Primetimers.
Melba is survived by her daughters, Paula and husband Cliff Barnett, Lou Ann and husband Harvey Burdg, and Nancy and husband Don Truman all of Enid, 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and brother Dean and wife Katie Mallory of Wakita and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Melba enjoyed gardening with Eldon and would spend hours canning adn freezing food from their garden. She loved to sew, which came in very handy with three daughters. She was always sewing for her girls adn each daughter was blessed to have her make their wedding dress. At times, she would be asked to make something special for friends and always accepted the request. She and Eldon loved to go fishing and enjoyed taking their granchildren with them.
At Oakwood, Eldon was Sunday School Superintendent and she served as Secretary. She also helped Eldon with the Shepherding at Oakwood.
When Eldon became a resident of Greenbrier Nursing Home, Melba visited him every day adn in the process made some real friendships in the process. After Eldon died, she became a volunteer at Greenbrier. She volunteered for 5 years until she had triple bypass surgery. After recovering from her surgery, she became a resident of Grennbrier and immediately felt comforatble in her new home. She enjoyed dominoes, bingo, crafts and book club. She also loved to put puzzles together, coloring adn watching the birds feed right outside her window. They were the best fed birds in Enid because she always made sure there was food in the feeder. She was known as the "social butterfly" of Greenbrier; whether she was helping a resident play bingo or checing on her roommate.
Melba loved her family and was proud of each of them. She especially loved it when we were all able to be together. One of her favorite gatherings was 3 years ago when they all gathered to celebrate her 86th birthday. She told everyone that would listen how much fun she had.
We all miss her but rejoice that she has once again been reunited with daddy.
Memorials may be made to Dan Wilson Legacy Fund at Oakwood Christian Church with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodians of the funds.
Condolences may be made online and the service may be viewed online at www.ladusauevans.com . -
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