Mary Melton

Born June 7, 1921 in Albion to Alva and Lena (Wilson) Gumbrell, she married James E. Melton on Sept. 27, 1947 in Henderson, Ky.

She was preceded in death by husband on September 2, 2002;  1 grandson, Matthew David Melton;1 sister, Edna Kelsey; and 1 brother, Lloyd Gumbrell.

Surviving are 1 son, Richard (Lana) Melton of Bartonville; 4 granddaughters, Michelle (Scott) Wells of Morton, Melissa Heuker and Meredith (Brandon) Stillman, both of Lake Wales, Fla., and Cecily (Robert) Whitehurst  of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Mary was a self-employed housekeeper for 50 years, retiring in 2008.  During World War II, she worked in an airplane factory in Evansville, Ind.

She attended First Missionary Church in North Pekin.

Mary was a member of the Pekin Women of the Moose and enjoyed gardening, yard work and collecting.

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 6, 2010 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes and Crematory in Pekin.  Pastor Tony Darr will officiate.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 5, 2010.  Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Missionary Church in North Pekin.