Melba Jean Hambleton

Melba Jean "Mel" (Jeffries) Hambleton, age 86, peacefully passed away on Sunday, September 7, 2014. She was at home in Fresno with her family. She was born on March 24, 1928, in Chickasha, OK. She was very proud to be an Oklahoman all of her life.

Mel grew up in a hardworking farming family with four brothers and one sister. She met her future husband in seventh grade at a county 4-H event. They were sweethearts from then on. After graduation from Tuttle High School, and a year at Oklahoma State, she married Bill Hambleton in 1948.

During the ensuing years, they had two daughters, lived on several cattle ranches and moved to Gilroy, CA in 1957, to manage a cattle ranch there. She became a nurse's aide for a period of time while Bill went back to school to become a teacher. In 1962, the family moved to Chowchilla, CA and lived there for 15 years. Mel enjoyed being a 4-H leader, volunteer and chaperone at many different school events and activities and made many of her daughters' clothes. She taught both of them to sew and cook. Mel also enjoyed clerking for Chowchilla, Madera and Fresno fairs, especially when she worked in the flower section.

In 1977, Mel and Bill moved to Fresno. Mel always had flower gardens and loved working in them for hours at a time. She knew the names of most flowers she saw. In later years, the couple enjoyed traveling both in the United States and Europe. One favorite trip was to New Zealand to visit their A.F.S. daughter, Sue, and her family. She also loved spending time at the coast, especially Pismo Beach. But her favorite thing to do that gave her the most joy was to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mel was a generous, thoughtful, caring, joyous, hardworking woman and always willing to lend a helping hand to others. She had a life long strong faith and loved reading and studying the Bible.

Mel was a beloved wife and adored mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She is survived by Bill, her husband of 66 years; daughters Peggy Moore and her husband Don, and Janice Rucker and her husband John; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Barbara Mosier and her husband Roy; sister-in-law, Maxine Jeffries; and many extended family members.

A Celebration of Life will be held at North Fresno Mennonite Brethren Church, 5724 N. Fresno Street, Fresno on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to support a missionary; a missions program; or the charity of your choice.

Arrangements under the direction of Stephens & Bean Funeral Chapel, Fresno, CA.