Melba Fern Ashby

Melba Fern Ashby (Hipps), age 68, of Fayetteville, died Tuesday, December 12, 2017. She was born April 19, 1949 in Blytheville, Arkansas, the daughter of Stam Wilburn and Gracie Gertrude Maxwell Hipps. She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Charles Hipps, Bob Hipps and Curtis Hipps. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband, Paul Ashby; two daughters, Michelle Hice and husband Dale of Pettigrew and Melanie Noland and husband Michael of Lowell; a son, Jeffry Hipps and wife Shuree of Goshen; six grandchildren, Kristan Russell, Sarah Farmer, Caitlin Noland, Alison Noland, Hubert McGarrah and Amanda Hice; a brother, James Hipps of Elkins and two sisters, Bonita Edens of Prairie Grove and Elwanda Hipps of Springdale. Funeral service will be held Saturday, December 16, at 2 p.m. at First Assembly of God Church in Fayetteville, followed by a private burial at Baptist Ford Cemetery, under the direction of Moore's Chapel. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.