Melba Lee West, a resident of rural Henryetta, died Jan. 22, 2021, in Okmulgee at the age of 92. She was born June 11, 1928, in Wewoka to Ralph and Beulah (Babb) Thompson
She attended Benedict School in Hughes County and enjoyed playing basketball and showing animals at stock shows. She met Paul Alvis West at a stock show at the age of 14 and married him on her 15th birthday, June 11, 1943. They lived in Atwood, Oklahoma, and were blessed with four daughters. Melba worked alongside Paul in all of his endeavors, which included running a dairy farm, raising chickens and farming.
In 1960, they moved to Okmulgee where they built Paul’s Western Store in Henryetta, which Melba ran with her daughter Gail for many years. They were longtime members of both the Okmulgee Nazarene Church and the Henryetta Nazarene Church. They served the church faithfully throughout their lives. She was preceded in death by Paul in October of 2015, after being married for 72 years. She was also preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Ralph Thompson and Don Earl Thompson.
She is survived by one sister, Barbara and her husband Richard Humphrey of Holiday, Fla.; four daughters and their husbands: LaTrishia and Bob Sherry of Atwood, Gail and Dick West of Henryetta, Paula and Bernie Brown of Glenpool, and Shirley and Keith Flanary of Henryetta; eight grandchildren: Michelle Lance, Sharla Black, Paul Brown, Kathy Bailey, Walt Sherry, Mike Brown, Ryan Flanary and Jason Flanary; 17 great grandchildren: Kelsey Sherry, Landyn Black, Jordan Black, Chance Doty, Trey West, Kade Bailey, Kanon Bailey, Madison Rachor, Evan Brown, Avery Brown, Addison Brown, Chase Brown, Trenton Flanary, Taryn Flanary, Bennett Flanary, Anna Flanary and Qynn Flanary; three great-great grandchildren: Tradyon, Carter and Emarie Doty.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 at the First Church of the Nazarene in Henryetta with Pastor Tim Cole officiating. Interment will be at the Atwood Cemetery in Atwood, at approximately 3 p.m. under the direction of Rogers Funeral Home.
Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, from 12 to 8 p.m. at Rogers Funeral Home, 1302 West Main Street, Henryetta.