Born on January 6, 1936, to Wesley and Pearl Newman near Velma, Melva became the middle child among eight.

A model student, Melva loved books and literature, a gift she later passed on to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She graduated from Velma Alma Highschool in 1954 as co-valedictorian of her class.

Melva met Dale T. Hines at church, as a teen. The couple married in Oklahoma on February 27, 1955, while Dale served in the United States Air Force in Texas. They built a powerful family foundation that spanned 63 years of their lives in New Mexico, Nevada, California, and Oklahoma. A daughter Cynthia, joined them in 1957, son Richard in 1960, and son Tim in 1966.

Melva especially loved cooking, sewing, gardening, and caring for her family.

She handled the financial intricacies of the family business with precision as the secretary for Hines Construction.

Melva’s profound faith and dedication to Jesus Christ served as the foundational pillar of her life and her family. By committing her life to God at the age of nine, she established a lifelong devotion that guided her daily actions, her role as a homemaker, and dedication to her loved ones until her final breath.

Melva was preceded in death by her husband Dale; her son, Richard; her parents, Wesley and Pearl; a sister, Wynola; brothers,Allen, Wayne, John, Paul, and Imon; father-in-law, Henry and mother-in-law Viola. Melva is survived by her son, Tim and wife Cindy; daughter, Cynthia; grandchildren, Sara, Lyndsey, Aubrey and husband Evan, Ashley, Marshal, Coley and wife Sam, Lauren and husband Steven, Derek and wife Kalyn; great grandchildren,Annabelle, Jude, Vivienne, Charlotte, Juniper, Jackson, Amelia, Galexy, Russia Nova, Harper, Rory, August; as well as baby, Margot, arriving any day. She is also survived by her sister, Mary; brother, Philip and wife Deanna, and sisters-in-law, Francine and Marsha. and a host of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m., on Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Velma Assembly of God in Velma. Rev. Dewain Duck will officiate the service. Interment will follow at the Claud Cemetery, in Velma.

Family visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Hale’s Funeral Home in Sulphur.

Services have been “Entrusted to” Hale’s Funeral Home, of Sulphur. Online condolences may be offered at halesfuneralhomes.com.