Melbra Louise Clinton Whitbey

Funeral services for Melbra Whitbey will be held on Monday, December 18th, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Park Hill Baptist Church with Pastor Carlton Greggory Clark officiating. Her family will have a visitation on Sunday, December 17th, 2017 at Reed-Culver Funeral Home beginning at 2:00 PM until 4:00PM, and the public is invited. Her final resting place will be at White Oak/Qualls cemetery in Park Hill, OK. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.

Melbra Louise (Clinton) Rose-Whitbey was born on January 26th, 1948, in Clear Lake, CA, the daughter of Clessie Albert and Ruby Marie (Stilwell) Clinton. She grew up in a household with four brothers and five sisters, attended school and then the family relocated back to the Tahlequah area. Melbra might have been petite, but there was nothing this determined woman couldn’t do. She loved life and everyone in it! She worked at Hastings Snack Bar and always had a big smile for everyone. She was the proud mother of three sons and a daughter, Michael, Jerry, Brad, and Misty. She loved every chance she had to spend with her children, she adored them. When she wasn’t at work, she was grabbing a fishing pole, or headed to the garage sales. She was an avid traveler and loved to go to Branson and even just around the countryside. She babied her palm trees and loved the occasional night out dancing. When her grandchildren came along, Melbra was elated to spend every free moment she had with them, she loved watching them grow and watching them play sports. She was ready for any excuse for the family to gather, especially the holidays. She liked time spent with Tommy relaxing at home. A Christian by faith, Melbra was a member of Gods Mountain Church, and always felt like everyone there was her church family. The Lord called this good and faithful servant home from her labors on Thursday, December 14th, 2017 at her home in Tahlequah. Melbra was 69 years old. She leaves a vacancy that no one can ever fill.

Melbra is preceded in death by her son, Jerry Lee Rose, mother, father, two brothers, James Clinton and Henry Clinton and her two sisters, Dorothy Faye Johnson and Shirley Mae Ballard.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband Tommy of the home on Tahlequah. She leaves her children, Michael James Rose and wife Carrie Lynn of Chouteau, OK, Brad Whitbey and wife Jacinda of Russellville, AR, and Misty Wilson and husband Craig also of Russellville, AR. Her brothers and sisters include Buddy Lee Clinton and wife Debbie of Cookson, OK, Steve Randall Clinton of Claremore, OK. Phyllis Marie Smith of Keys, OK, Joyce Ann Henderson and husband Jerry of Keys, OK, and Cressie Darlene Belden and husband Jim of Tailholt, OK. Melbra lives on in her eleven grandchildren, Michael Timothy James Rose, Alex rose, Kelly McFarland, Ryan Brown, Brittany Brown, Kristina Bryant, Laken Whitbey, Ethan Wilson, Conner Wilson, Ashley Vick, and Will Vick. Her great grandchildren include Kayden James Rose, Lilly Rose, Garrett Rose, Winter Rose, Hunter Rose, Journey Rose, Addie Rose, Bella Rose, Aria Rose, Terriona Rose, Ryan Rose, Zoey Rose, Reid Striplin and Rylann Fetters. She also leaves behind a great family friend Vera Rose, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones.