James E. Melton
19 August 1929 -

Shirley Melton
13 April 1935 - 3 September 2018

On Monday afternoon, September 3, 2018 is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Shirley Pauline Petty Melton, 83, of Howe, Texas entered into her eternal life Monday afternoon.  She passed at home in her own bed and as she was passing her musical clock that has many different songs just happened to be playing "Amazing Grace" and she heard every bit of it.
After battling lymphoma cancer since 2014, Shirley was called home to be with her Heavenly Father and reunite with her husband, James, and with all her other family members that passed before her.
She was born on April 13, 1935 at Wilson N. Jones Hospital in Sherman, Texas to James Lawrence Petty and Pauline Evans Petty.
Shirley attended Bryant School, Sherman High School and Grayson County College.  She graduated from SHS in 1953 where she participated in the SHS Band, serving 2 years a Majorette.
She married James Eldridge Melton in Atoka, Oklahoma.  They shared 65 years of marriage and raised their 5 children on their farm northwest of Howe, Texas.  Their life was filled with farming, raising cattle and being active members in 4-H, FFA and the Howe Baptist Church activities with their children.
In the 80s, James became interested in Street Rodding.  That actually took them through most of the states west of the Mississippi.  Always traveling in the 48-5 Window Chevy pickup that was built by their son Rusty.  
Shirley had a desire to see the farm from up above.  On July 4, 2017, thanks to J. Finney and his yellow open-airplane she got to see "home" from the sky.  She said it was a most exhilarating thing to have experienced.
Shirley is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Rusty and Kathy Melton.  They faithfully played a huge part in her years of fighting lymphoma cancer and losing James in 2016.  Also surviving are daughters, Joy Melton, Peggy Abernathy, Tamela Shadden and Deborah Landers; 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; nephews, Jimmy and wife Christine McMurray; Larry and Brian Petty.
She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; sisters, Mona Ann Petty and Jewell McMurray; brother, James Lawrence Petty, Sr.; sister-in-law, Nancy Tuck Petty; grandson, Melton Ray; and mother and father-in-law, Ben and Vera Melton.
Pallbearers were son Rusty Melton; daughter-in-law, Kathy Melton; daughter, Joy Melton; grandsons, Dusty Melton, Randle Abernathy, Parker Owens; and granddaughters, Della Taylor and Llana Abernathy.
Funeral services were held Thursday, September 6, 2018 at Waldo Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Harold Finney officiating.  Interment followed in Akers Cemetery, Sherman, Texass. - - - Waldo Funeral Home

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