Melba Elizabeth Nixon

Melba Elizabeth Nixon passed from this life into eternal peace on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at the age of 87. A celebration of her life will take place on Wednesday, January 18 at 12:30 PM at First United Methodist Church, 202 Butternut, with the Rev. Jeff Zirkle officiating. Burial will follow at 2 PM at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 7457 W. Lake Rd. The family will receive friends Tuesday, January 17 from 5-7 PM at Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. The fifth of six children, Melba was born in Rockwood, Texas on May 3, 1929 to Boley Conner Walters and Maggie Ola Hatten Walters. She attended school in Rockwood and Santa Anna and graduated as Valedictorian from Santa Anna High School in 1945. She and her mom often traveled by bus to Coleman to do their shopping. It was at this bus station where she met a handsome young ticket agent who had just returned from serving on the USS Lexington during World War II. She married this young man, Harold Dean Nixon, on September 4, 1947 in the Methodist Parsonage in Santa Anna. The two made their first home together in Abilene so that Harold could attend business college. She worked to help put him through school and later became a homemaker when they started their family with a baby girl named Becky, later followed by sons Steve and Paul. Melba and Harold joined First United Methodist Church in Abilene in 1949, then later Clyde United Methodist Church where they attended for 10 years and made many lifelong friends. While living in Clyde, Melba was active in the Women’s Armstrong Circle of their church, as well as a Study Club. Melba loved family time at their farm outside Clyde and she and Harold would frequently load up the kids on weekends to feed the cattle and ride horses. Although she had no formal training, she was gifted with a beautiful voice which she shared by singing in the church choirs and at family weddings. Melba loved classical music and literature, and passed on that appreciation to her children. She loved working side-by-side with Harold in their garden and cultivated beautiful roses and many different kinds of flowers. Melba was also a member of Gideon’s International Women’s Auxiliary, accompanying Harold in traveling all over the country in his volunteer work for the Gideons, an organization whose mission about which they were both passionate. Once Melba’s and Harold’s three children were grown, they were blessed to be able to travel to many destinations all over the world. They visited the Holy Land on two occasions and counted these experiences as some of their very favorite travels. But their most favorite destination was New Mexico, where the family would often travel to spend the Christmas holidays in Ruidoso or Red River skiing, snowmobiling, and playing in the snow. Her adoring grandchildren called her “Nana,” and they were the lights of her life. She and “Gran” were great fans and supporters of their grandkids’ school activities, sports, and interests. The couple was blessed with almost 69 years of marriage when Harold was called home on April 10, 2016. Melba was also preceded in death by her parents and sisters Wretha Fitzgerald, Viola Richardson, and Ira Kuzniarek. She is survived by her daughter Becky and husband Jim Creel, son Steve and wife Kara Nixon, son Paul Nixon and girlfriend Tamara Kowalski; grandchildren Hayley and husband Justin Six, Blair and husband David Smith, Michael and wife Micalea Nixon, Christopher “C.J.” Nixon; great-grandchildren Harper and Carson Six, and Hayden, Kelton, and Luke Smith; sister Pauline Cooper and brother Wayne Walters; and sister-in-law Tommie Nixon. Melba’s warm lap and loving hands will also be missed by her beloved and loyal shih tzu companion, “J.D.” and granddog “Gromit.” Pall bearers will be her son Paul, grandsons Michael and Christopher, and grandsons-in-law Justin Six and David Smith. The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Melba’s wonderful caregivers from Home Instead who have loved and cared for her the past three years: Brenda Harnar, Cynthia West, Clara O’Shields, Nellie Herrera, and Yvonne Abbott. They also wish to thank the staff of Wesley Court for their care over the past two years, Matthew Wick M.D., and the compassionate nurses of Hendrick Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Melba’s name to First United Methodist Church, Hendrick Hospice, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).