NEVA was born 17 April 1915 in Waverly, Spokane Co., WA to Oscar and Laura Ella MELTON, of MT. Grove, Texas Co., MO. Her brother, Dale, is deceased (1912-2003). The MELTON’S lived in WA 1913-1918 before moving to Great Falls, MT. in 1919 they moved to a farm in Blackhawk Co., IA, where Neva enjoyed farm life and rode horses. She graduated from Hudson, IA, H.S. at age of 17 in 1932. On 8 Jul 1933, she married ELDO E. BRATTON in Waterloo, IA. Daughter BONNIE JEAN was born on 25 March 1934, and son ROBERT EARL on 14 May, 1936. Eldo worked at John Deere Tractor in Waterloo and at Viking Pump Co. in Cedar Falls until WW II, when the family moved to Minneapolis, MN in 1942. Eldo worked at Northern Pump Naval Defense Plant building large guns for Navy ships. The family were all baptized into the Bible Presbyterian Church. Neva taught vacation Bible school. They returned to a farm in Tama Co., IA in 1945, where Neva served as a PTA treasurer and attended Ladies Missionary Circle and the United Presbyterian Church. She and Bonnie rode horses in shows, parades and trail rides. In 1951 the family moved to Reinbeck, Grundy Co,., IA where Eldo worked for Pioneer Seed Corn Co. and Neva worked at Powers Mfg. Co. in Waterloo, IA in the pattern cutting dept. making athletic uniforms. Bob Graduated H.S. and Bonnie graduated college to become a teacher. In 1957 the Bratton’s moved to Phoenix, AZ where Eldo worked at Foremost Dairy until his death in 1972. Bob graduated in accounting and worked for SRP. In the 70’s, Neva cared for her parents until their deaths and raised her grandson David after his mother died from accident injuries. From 1973-83 Neva worked as customer relations representative for Western Savings and Loan. In 1983 Neva, Bob, and Bonnie moved to Tempe, AZ, to form a family for David. Neva was proud of David’s accomplishments in sports, esp. football. He played for Perdue University in IN and graduated in Computer Technology in 1999. He and wife Anna have twins, Nicholas and Alexandra, born 2002. From 1998-2007, Neva traveled over 70,000 mi., until the age of 92 with Bob and Bonnie to visit many states. Neva was a member of the Grace Evangelical Free Church in Apache Junction. She was devoted to her family and faith in Jesus Christ, her Savior. She died in Mesa on 22 Feb 2014 at age 98 years, 10 months. She will be greatly missed.
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