Melba Aliene Jones

Melba Aliene Moore Jones, 93, of Bryant, departed this life on Dec. 16, 2011. She was born on Nov. 16, 1918, in Des Arc, Ark., to the late John and Addie Moore. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Jones; sisters, Carrie McDonald, Flossie Sanders, Eleanor Harvey, Wilma Moore, Sally McClellan Williams, and Esther Moore; brothers, Harry Moore and John Moore Jr.; and father-in-law, Reese Jones. Melba is survived by her daughter, Leta Boone and husband, Coyce, of Bryant; grandchildren, Tamara Newsom and husband, Joe, of Bryant, Ward Boone and wife, Lora, of Conway, Wade Boone and wife, Carrie, of Bryant; great-grandchildren, Learon Newsom, Alex Boone, Anna Boone, and Christopher Boone, of Bryant, Ethan Boone, Gwen Boone, and Kinsey Boone, of Conway, John Newsom and Eric Newsom, of Brookland, Ark., and Brittany Green, of Magnolia, Ark., and a great-great-grandchild, Addy Newsom, of Brookland, Ark. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews and a very special family friend, Carol Fite. She was known by all of her family as Me Maw Melba. She retired from the City of Bryant, Ark., after 30 years of service. She was city treasurer for 28 years. Melba never had an opponent during these 28 years. She was the office manager of the Bryant Water and Sewer Department for 30 years. In 1985, a resolution was passed by the Bryant City Council dedicating a room in the Dean R. Boswell Community Center in her honor. She was a member of Bryant First United Methodist Church, an inactive member of the Bryant Study Club, Thursdays Together, and United Methodist Women. Visitation will be 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Sunday, at Ashby Funeral Home in Benton, Ark. Church services by Ashbys will be 10 a.m., Monday, at the Bryant First United Methodist Church, with Bro. Hammett Evans and Bro. Charles Murry officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Cemetery, Alexander, Ark. Pallbearers will be Paul Halley, Phil Harris, Mark Sikes, Jarrod Barnard, Tim Martin and Dale Kinzler. The family will be at her home at 311 Southwest 3rd Street, Bryant, Ark. Her family wishes to thank the many friends for their prayers, visits, and phone calls. Also a special thanks to the staff at Mount Carmel Community, Saline Memorial Hospital 4th floor, Heartland Rehab and Care Center, and Saline Memorial Hospice in Bryant for all the loving care given to her and her family. Memorials may be made to Saline Memorial Hospice House at 23157, I-30, Bryant, Ark., 72022, Bryant First United Methodist Church (Cole Halley Scholarship Fund) 508 North Reynolds Road, Bryant, Ark., 72022, or the BentStar Project, Limited, 443 First Street, Woodland, Calif., 95695-4023. Online guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.