Melba LaVieve Anderson

Mrs. Melba La Vieve Gavoille Anderson was born on September 23, 1920 in Blackfoot, Bingham County, Idaho. She graduated from Blackfoot High School and Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education and literature. She married Bert D. Anderson in Logan, Utah, on July 22, 1946. Bert and Melba were the parents of 3 children. They were married 49 years at the time of Bert’s passing on December 3, 1995. She passed on April 18, 2016, at the age of 95 in Merced, California.

Melba was a resident of Merced County for 20 years. Before moving to Merced, Melba lived in Modesto, California, where she was employed with the Modesto and Ceres School Districts for 10 years.

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The American Association of University Women and Merced Community Choir. She enjoyed helping and volunteered at the Merced County Art Council, library and hospital.

Melba’s hobbies included gardening, reading, singing, biking, roller skating, jumping on a pogo stick, walking for miles, racquetball and swimming.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Constant Franklin Gavoille and Mabel Ivy Bingham Gavoille; husband, Dr. Bert Anderson; brothers, Franklin, Howard and Lewis Gavoille; sisters, Leora Gavoille Larsen and Marjorie Gavoille Nielson; and one grandson, Kevin Tibbitts.

Melba is survived by her daughters, Joylene Anderson Tibbitts of San Jacinto, California, and Susan Anderson Overton of Merced, California; son, Roger Anderson of Wilmer, Texas; 8 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1080 East Yosemite Avenue, Merced, California, on Saturday April 23 with a viewing from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m., funeral service at 11:00 a.m. and interment being held at Lakewood, located at 900 Sante Fe Ave Hughson, California at 1:00 p.m.