LaVerne Melton

Services for LaVerne Melton, 89, of Tyler were held Jan.20, at Stewart Family Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Gene Steger and Rev. Karen Jones officiating under direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.

Mrs. Melton passed away Jan. 18, 2007, at the Azalea Place Nursing Home in Tyler after a long illness. LaVerne was born June 27, 1917, in Upshur County to the late Wesley and Gaudia Pruitt. She moved to Longview at an early age where she graduated from Longview High School and from BMI of Business in Longview. She moved to Tyler, where she has lived for 58 years. After working in the business world for a few years, Mrs. Melton became a homemaker, who loved to take care of her home and grandchildren. She was a Presbyterian.

Mrs. Melton was preceded in death by her son, Winston Dwayne Melton; brother, Talmadge Pruitt; and sister, Virginia Nelson.

LaVerne is survived by her husband of 57 years, John B. Melton, who has been her loving caregiver for several years. She is also survived by her daughter, Virginia Dorsey and husband Carl of Tyler; grandsons, Eric Dorsey of Whitehouse and Winston Melton of Tyler; granddaughter, Pauline Montgomery of Tyler; greatgrandchildren, Gunnar and Alexa Dorsey of Whitehouse, Cody Montgomery, Samantha Lowery, Stephanie Ritter and Becky Melton, all of Tyler; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Myndall Harris of Phoenix, Ariz.; nephews, Byron Nelson of Tyler, Kyle Nelson of Longview; and niece, Cathy Been of Troup.

Memorials in honor of LaVerne may be made to Heart to Heart Hospice; 401 E. Front St., Tyler, 75702.

For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com or go to www.tylerpaper.com and click on obituaries.