Melda Frances Kashock

She was born on December 12, 1945, in Indianapolis, Indiana, a daughter of Ora Ruben and Emma Louise (Spencer) Burns. Melda married James Lou Kashock on May 25, 1968, in Lincoln. He preceded her in death on January 24, 2022 in East Peoria.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; great-granddaughter, Lexi Hill; great-grandson, Zair Kesselmayer; and her sister, Dorothy Frovarp.

Melda is survived by her two daughters, Kimberly Ann (Perry) Watson of Pekin and Deborah Kay (Scott) Schmick of Green Valley; three grandchildren, Travis (Larissa) Watson of Morton, Shayla (Garret) Kesselmayer of Mapleton, and Ashley Schmick of Pekin; one step-grandson, Billy Merry of Topeka; five great-grandchildren of which includes, Everly Watson of Morton and Emma Hill of Pekin; three sisters, Donna (Charlie) Vandervort of Livingston, Texas, Pat (Monte) Briggs of Heyworth, and Carolyn (Mark) Abbott of Bloomington; two brothers, Robert (Roberta) Burns of Stanford and Richard (Anne) Burns of Summerville, South Carolina; one sister-in-law, Mary (Richard) Dermody of Everett, Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She last worked as a lab technician finisher for PAL Health Technologies in Pekin for 25 years, retiring in 2015.

Melda attended online services with Richwoods Christian Church in Peoria. She loved spending time in her floral gardens and working in her yard over the years. Melda appreciated the beauty of God's creation in nature and would stop to take photographs of sunrises, sunsets, and various scenery. Melda loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed visiting and meeting for breakfast once a month with her local siblings.

Melda's memorial service will be at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home in Pekin. Pastor Chad Manbeck will officiate. Inurnment will take place immediately following the service at Prairie Haven Cemetery in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Richwoods Christian Church, 8115 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria, IL 61615 or https://www.richwoods.org/give/

Online condolences may be shared with Melda's family at www.Preston-Hanley.com