Melba Marie Cordell

Melba (Errebo) Cordell joined the angel’s choir and heaven’s golf links on December 11, 2025, after living over 100 wonderful years of life. Melba was born on April 2, 1925 to Florence (Burns) Errebo and Pierce William Errebo in Pittsburgh, KS. Her mother and father established the State Business College in Miami OK, where Melba learned typing, and the now lost art of shorthand. She was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Miami; and graduated from Miami High School in 1943. She attended Monmouth College for one year, joining Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, before returning to complete her bachelor’s degree in music and psychology at Oklahoma State University in 1948. She brought Kappa back with her to OSU, working to establish and colonize the Delta Sigma chapter of Kappa in 1947. More importantly, it was at OSU that she met her husband, Tom Cordell. They married in Miami on December 27, 1948. They lived for short periods of time in Great Falls, Coeur D’Alene, and Little Rock, before returning to Miami where they lived and raised their four children. Melba returned to school obtaining her music teaching certification in 1969. She taught elementary school music in Miami for 16 years, to help finance all 4 children’s college education. Melba retired in 1986.

Melba was active in the Miami community – a founder of PEO Chapter EJ; Twentieth Century Club; Little Theater; Friends of the Coleman; youth choir director, chime choir director, sometimes adult choir director at First Presbyterian. She was an avid cook for family gatherings, and for meals and sweets she delivered to friends in time of need. In her “spare” time she could be found on the golf course with Tom, or lady golfers. When they traveled, golf clubs were considered necessary luggage. She continued playing golf up through age 98; and even after, loved sitting on the patio watching and analyzing golfers’ swings as they passed by.

After 63 years of marriage, Tom passed away (2011). Melba moved to OKC in 2013 to be closer to family, living in a home next to Nancy. Nancy, an active member of Westminster Presbyterian Church OKC, involved Melba at Westminster, which she adopted as her OKC church home and family. She loved to “go” – whether family trips to Scottsdale, visits to family in Houston, girls’ trips to LV, Branson outings, attending her children’s class reunions in Miami, or just out running errands with family. She had an insatiable love of life, of family, and of friends.

Due to health, she moved to Legends at Jefferson’s Garden OKC in 2023, where she was well-cared for by staff, family and friends. Special thanks for the loving care by JG staff, her caregiver (Vivian Davis), and the team at Valir.

She was preceded in death by her mother, father, husband and brother, Burns Errebo. She is survived by her 4 children, 6 grandchildren, 15 great-grand children and 3 nieces and 1 nephew. Children: Nancy Cordell, Mark Cordell and wife Tricia, Tom Cordell Jr and wife Ann, Ann Ballew and husband Stan. Grandchildren: Kyle (and Jena) Cordell, Matt (and Julie) Cordell, Michael Cordell, Scott (and Carly) Cordell, Cordell (and Katie) Ballew, Carly (and Chase) Lilly. Great-grandchildren: Jake, Kevin and George Cordell; Tommy and William Cordell; Cooper and Cora Cordell; Joe, Ella and Addie Ballew; Carter and Grant Cordell; Ben, Harper and Asher Lilly.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on January 17, 2026 in the Chapel at Westminster Presbyterian Church OKC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Miami, or Westminster Presbyterian Church OKC.