Melvin Dewane Roberts

Melvin Dewane Roberts of Cherryville, Missouri passed away Monday, December 5, 2022 in his home at the age of 88 years, 6 months and 8 days. He was born May 28, 1934 in Summerfield, Missouri to Andrew Jackson Roberts and Mary Jane Groff Roberts. On May 26, 1956, Melvin was united in marriage to the love of his life, Letha Mae Hart, and to this union two sons and one daughter were born.

Melvin served our country honorably from 1951 to 1956 in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Korea and served during the Korean War.

For fifteen years, Melvin spent his time as a heavy equipment operator while living in Midwest City, Oklahoma. For several years, he hauled heavy equipment across country.  In 1977 he and Letha moved to Cherryville where he continued working with heavy equipment whether clearing land, road grading or building lakes or ponds for several years.

Melvin was of the Pentecostal faith. He was a self-taught and very talented musician on the fiddle, harmonica, mandolin and jaws harp, playing some of the old blue grass and gospel songs. He enjoyed hunting, especially for deer, and some turkey occasionally. He loved to fish whether for catfish, bass or blue gill in his own self-made lakes which he kept stocked. He spent many hours also gardening his tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers or whatever he loved to grow.

Most of all he loved visiting with his friends whether at Golden Echoes-Senior Center playing pool or just drinking coffee at the local restaurant and of course seeing his family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren or great-great-grandson. And in his last days, he appreciated and loved that his granddaughter, Krissa, was there for him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Mary Roberts; his wife, Letha Roberts; daughter, Gayle Lambert; daughter-in-law, Leigh Roberts; four brothers, Harold (Bernice) Roberts, Sanford “Sanky” (Shirley) Roberts, Lee “Cap” Roberts and Arnold Roberts; and sister-in-law, Shirley (Jerry) Malin.

He will be sadly missed by his two sons, Dean (Yvonne Pisz) Roberts of Plantation, FL and Joey (Carolyn) Roberts of Salem, MO; five grandchildren, Krissa Lambert of Florissant, MO, Jordyn (Gary) Lundy of Los Angeles, CA, Adam (Amanda) Roberts of Louisville, CO, Joseph (Hannah) Roberts of Cape Coral, FL and Jesse (Miranda) Roberts of Colorado Springs, CO; ten great-grandchildren, Micah Dodson, Joseph Rickelmann, Jr. and Johnathan Rickelmann, Layla and Wyatt Lundy, Reece, Rowan and Violet Roberts and Eli and Ella Grace Roberts; one great-great-grandson, Noah and one baby boy on the way; sister, Darlene (Jimmy) Kokenberger of Pittsburgh, PA; one sister-in-law, Myrna Roberts of Belle, MO; other relatives; and many friends.

The Family received friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 11, 2022 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 12, 2022 with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. Special music of "Power in the Name of Jesus", "Ain't No Grave will Hold me Down" and "Amazing Grace" was played.

Committal prayer and interment with Full Military Honors and Patriot Guard Honors were in the Cherryville Baptist Church Cemetery, Cherryville, Missouri.

The Roberts Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.

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