Mary Melvin

Mary Ellen Melvin passed away peacefully on March 3, 2025, surrounded by family at her home in Forney, Texas. She was born on January 27, 1943, in Madill, Oklahoma to James and Viola Jones.

Mary moved with her family to Dallas at the age of five where she attended school, eventually graduating from W.W. Samuell High School in 1961. After graduation, Mary entered the workforce. She worked a variety of jobs but was most proud of her time at Atlas Powder, MKT Railroad ("The Katy"), and her 18 years at Hunt Petroleum where she worked as a paralegal. Mary took great pride in her work and often said that she was "blessed to work with good people." Outside of work, Mary was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Forney where she served as the Sunday School Director and taught Children's Sunday School for many years. Mary also enjoyed sewing, working in her flowerbeds, planning gatherings for her family, and traveling with her loving husband of 45 years, Fred. Together, Mary and Fred raised a large family that she described as "the great joy of her life." Mary will be remembered most for her unfaltering kindness, infectious laugh, never-wavering faith in the Lord, and her steadfast devotion to family.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, James and Viola Jones; her brother, James (Sonny) Jones; and her grandson, Jeremy Melvin.

She is survived by her husband, Fred Melvin; daughter Gina Orr and husband Gregg; and sons, Bobby Brewer and wife Shannon, Mike Melvin and wife Paulette, and Ricky Melvin. Mary's pride and joy were her 12 grandchildren, Jeremy Melvin, Chris Melvin and wife Amanda, Jason Melvin, Taelor Brewer and wife Mandy, Austen Brewer and wife Sara, Dakota Brewer and wife Claire, Ashley Papandrea and husband Matt, Micaela Brewer-Saladin and husband Thomas, Anna Orr, McKinsey Brewer, Gage Brewer, and Eli Brewer; 11 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren. Special friends of the family include Kay and Bill Harris and family.

The funeral service for Mary Melvin will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at New Hope Funeral Home in Sunnyvale, Texas. Visitation with the family will be held prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. If you feel led, donations can be made on Mary's behalf to the First Baptist Church of Forney Children's Ministry.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - II Corinthians 4:16-18