Phyllis Melton
There is no proper way to pay adequate tribute to a woman who was admired by all and was the accepted unofficial historian of an extended community.
If there were such a way, it should be accomplished below; but this effort will fall far short of its goal.
Phyllis Melton was one of a kind. Her equal will not be found, and her absence will have a profound impact on the community she loved.
Always ready and more than willing to help others, she often was the source of information on local history by this newspaper.
Her fund of knowledge was not only unlimited, but accurate. That's important.
She enjoyed life, especially when helping others. Her zeal for her home community was overwhelming, and she always made every effort to put back into the community more than she received from it. On the balance sheet of life she was a Fortune 500 person.
Her untimely death, even at her age, caught the public short. Often when word of her death made its way around this small community the expression was the same, "I just visited with her. Oh, I'm shocked. I had no idea she was about to leave us."
Had the community known that Phyllis Melton's days were numbered, there would have been a recognition event such as this town had never seen.
But her death caught us short. That observance is impossible. Instead of mourning her death, let us celebrate her life.
If Phyllis were able to give some advice, it would be to live on and do right. Be kind, gentle, serve others, and put your assets back into the community.
— BILL MEYER
