Mary Summers Melton

Mary Melton, age 98, was born on March 10, 1918 and passed away on September 29, 2016. Her services will be held on Monday, October 3, 2016 at 12 noon in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. She was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma to John Edwin and Lola Josephine Laird Summers. The family moved to East Texas when she was twelve years old. She graduated from Longview High School in 1936. On March 8, 1941 she married Woody (W. W.) Melton of Longview. They were married for 62 ½ wonderful years until his death in 2003. Mary was devoted to her family. She was active in her daughter’s school years, serving as Camp Fire Girl’s Leader, serving as home room mother and PTA officer each year and making a ton of chicken and spaghetti. Their home and lake house were always open to their daughter’s friends. As long time members of First Baptist Church they were very active in Sunday School and BXYZ. Mary loved to travel and belonged to three travel clubs in Longview. She traveled throughout the United States, North America, Europe and Asia but her favorite time was cruising with family and friends. She was totally involved in the lives and activities of her two granddaughters and great-grandchildren. Recitals, sporting events, performances, school activities, she was always there. She was especially fond of summer camp activities each summer in the hill country. Her last trip was attending a week of camp ceremonies for great grandchildren in July at 98 years old. She was preceded in death by her husband, son-in-law, Dick Rathbun, and siblings Stub, Jack, Gail, Joe and Tommy Summers. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Sue Rathbun, granddaughters, Kelly Jennings and Stacy Rathbun and great-grandchildren Kelsey Rathbun and Richard Jennings. She is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Sissie Summers of League City and Rubie Summers of Montgomery, Texas; as well as four generations of nieces and nephews and many friends that called her “Grandmother.” Pallbearers are Gray Rathbun, Dan Felsenthal and Mark Elmore all of Longview, Matthew Rathbun and Ken Kizer of Dallas and John Lofton of New Orleans, LA. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Martin of League City, Gary Summers and Mike Henderson of Houston, Edward Summers and Willis Moore of Liberty, Gene Rappeport of Longview and Hawkins Dunlap of Bali, Indonesia. The family would like to thank Hearts Way Hospice and Texas Home Health for the excellent care and service they provided. A memorial guestbook may be signed online at www.raderfh.com.

Mary Summers Melton

March 10, 1918 - September 29, 2016