Helen F Melton

Helen was born on January 2, 1937 in Attica, Kansas to Carlysle (Lysle) Martin and Bessie (Mayfield) Martin. She was the fifth of seven children. Helen grew up in Haviland KS, moving frequently as her father (a man of many talents) would purchase fixer-uppers, move the family in while he restored them, then sell the home and start over.

Helen graduated from Fort Hays State College in Kansas with a degree in Nursing. During a stint as a student nurse, she met her future husband Robert (Bob) Melton in a hospital in Kansas City, MO. They were married on January 29, 1959 and moved into a home at Lake Lotawana MO in 1960. During their 62 years on the lake, they raised two children (Melanie and Craig).

Helen was co-president of the Mason Elementary PTA with Bob for many years – she did all the paperwork, while he stood up in front of people and talked. She was a leader in her daughter’s Girl Scout Brownie Troop as well as her son’s Cub Scout Den. She went to every gymnastic meet her daughter competed in, and she and Bob were chaperons on their son’s orchestra trip with “Show Me Vienna.”

She sold Avon for years, receiving several awards as top seller in her district. She also enjoyed bowling, knitting, and water sports. After quitting her job as a nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital when Melanie was two, Helen went back to work at St. Luke’s Hospital to help pay for her kids’ college expenses.

In their later years, she and Bob became very active in The John Knox Presbyterian Kirk, of which they were charter members. She helped run blood drives, knitted many sweaters and mittens for the Christmas mitten tree, and participated in Sack Lunch Bunch. Outside the church, she and Bob enjoyed traveling to visit family, and took several cruises.

She is preceded in death by her parents, three sisters (Claudine Pyle, Peggy Colburn, Cora Martin), three brothers (Bobby Martin, Raymond Martin, Buddy Martin), her husband (Robert Melton) and her son (Craig Richard Melton). She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law (Melanie (Melton) and Phil Knocke), grandson (Charles Craig Knocke), and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Kirk of Kansas City, MO on June 19, 2026 at 2:00 pm. She will be buried at Floral Hills East Memorial Garden, just south of Lake Lotawana, MO.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to The Kirk of Kansas City.