Obituary of Raymond D. Melton

Funeral services for Raymond D. Melton, 92, of Tyler, will be 2:00 pm, Thursday, July 17, 2014 at Cottle Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Mike Rice officiating. Burial will be in the Union Grove Cemetery, under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home, Troup. Mr. Melton died Tuesday, July 15, 2014 in Tyler. He was born August 13, 1921 in Troup, Texas, to the late R.E.Melton and Garland Simmons. Raymond was born in Troup, Texas where he grew up on his family’s farm, he graduated from Salem High School, he was a former employee of the Smith County Tax Assessors office and retired from National Life Insurance Company after many years of employment, He served in the Navy WWII on a Aircraft Carrier as a gunner‘s mate. He married the love of his life Reba Melton, he attended Tyler Commercial College and Federal Institute of Business, he received many awards for his hard work and integrity. He was a member of the National Life Top Hat Club and he loved golf, hunting and fishing. Mr. Melton is preceded in death by his parents, siblings, infant sister, Lenard Melton, Vernon Melton, Lloyd Melton, Ruth Calicutt; and an infant daughter, Suzanne Melton; grand daughter, Rebecca Jane Thompson Corley. Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Reba Melton of Tyler; daughter, Sharon and husband Jimmy Thompson of Rusk; grandson, Stoney and wife Mary Thompson of Rusk; great grandchildren, Weston, Will and Witton Thompson, Carson Corley and Anderson Corley all of Rusk and grand son-in-law, Clint Corley of Rusk. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Thompson, Jerry Thompson, Stoney Thompson, Clint Corley, Maxie McNew,Tommy Williams and David Melton,. Honorary Pallbearers will be Billy Don Melton, Carson Corley, Anderson Corley, Weston Thompson, Will Thompson, Witton Thompson, Clifford Garrett and Ronnie Melton. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home from Noon to 2:00 pm, Thursday, prior to service.