Melba (Skaggs) Beasley, 54, daughter of Bob and Zella (Peace) Skaggs, was born Dec.12, 1957, in Tahlequah, Okla. She passed away Nov. 15, 2012, at Houston Mo.
Melba was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Kendra Lynn Beasley.
She is survived by her husband, Mike; two sons, Jason and wife, Melissa, and Josh and wife, Laura; grandson, Kaden Beasley; father-in-law, Bill Beasley and wife, Dessie; and sister-in-law, Sonya White and husband, Mike, all of Houston. She is also survived by her parents; her sister, Pam Hooper and husband, William, all of Oklahoma. Also surviving are several uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Melba grew up in Proctor, Okla., and graduated from Westville Oklahoma High School in 1976.
She married Mike Beasley on Aug. 21, 1976, and to this union two sons were born.
Melba received Christ as her savior at Proctor Oklahoma Community Church in 1991 and was later baptized at Proctor Baptist Church. She was a devout and outspoken Christian and studied God’s word so that she might understand and follow His teachings.
Melba loved working in her garden and was well-known for the Longhorn Okra seeds she gave away to everyone. She was also very knowledgeable about herbs and natural healing. Many times she got her family through a bout of sickness with one of the many home remedies she kept stocked. She also had a wealth of knowledge about the natural plants found in the woods and streams that were edible as taught by her Grandma Peace and mother Zella. She loved teaching her sons and was teaching her grandson these things.
Melba loved history, as was evidenced by her participation in pre-1840 re-enactments. She was a long time member of the Ozark Mountain Long Rifles Club and dearly loved rendezvousing with all her friends. She made all of her and Mike’s period correct costumes, and taught herself the old Indian art of finger weaving. She loved demonstrating and teaching this skill to those interested.
Most of all, Melba loved her family. She was totally devoted to them and would always sacrifice her time or energy to do for them. She spent a great deal of her time caring for her grandson, Kaden. She was very proud of her two grown sons and the men they turned out to be. She always told them to do the right thing, and was proud of the choices they made for wives.
Melba was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was always looking for ways to help her family, and felt that God had given her each day to serve Him and try to be an inspiration to her family and friends. She will be missed, but we know that she is enjoying being with Jesus and seeing the beauty of Heaven. We know that she is holding little Kendra Lynn and is looking forward to the day she can share that joy with us.
Services were Tuesday, Nov. 20, at Ozark Baptist Church with Pastor Bill Jetton and Pastor Wade Rabun officiating. Burial was in the Ozark Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ralph Alkire, Leonard Miller, Steven Cain, Bob Roach, William Hooper and Roger Willhite. Honorary pallbearers were Marty Martinez and Randy Beasley.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ozark Mountain Long Rifles Club. Online condolences may be sent to www.evansf.com. Services were under the direction of Evans Funeral Home.
