Melva Marie Maher
July 20, 1931 to August 27, 2020
Melva M. Maher, age 89, was peacefully called home to be with the Lord at her home in Lake Forest, CA on Thursday, August 27, 2020. Born July 20, 1931 to Edith and Melvin Childress, Melva was named after her dad and was the oldest of three children. To all who knew her she was a godly woman who touched the hearts and lives of all she encountered.
Melva graduated from Crooked Oak High School where she met her childhood sweetheart, Clyde L. Maher. Melva and Clyde married in November of 1950 and raised three loving children. Melva and Clyde attended Victory Baptist Church in Oklahoma City until they moved their family to Dewey, Oklahoma, where they immediately found a new church and made Bluestem Baptist Church their family’s church home. In 1962 they made a move from Dewey, Oklahoma to Fountain Valley, California, which was only supposed to be a 2-year stay. Well, she was still here 58 years later.
Soon after moving to Fountain Valley, Melva and her family found First Southern Baptist Church of Costa Mesa and later became Charter Members of First Southern Baptist Church of Fountain Valley. She opened her house to Bible Study classes, Youth Group meetings, and other church activities. As a Charter Member, Melva was there through 8 different pastors, the change from First Southern Baptist Church to Shoreline Baptist Church in 2001 and then later to Shoreline Church.
In 1970 Melva became the first Preschool Teacher of First Southern Baptist Christian Preschool. She taught preschoolers in the morning and took college classes in the afternoons at Orange Coast College. She received her certificates in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Preschool Teacher and Director/Administration. Melva touched the lives of so many preschool children, parents, and staff over her 30 years in the preschool ministry. Melva not only taught preschoolers, she loved to teach VBS, Bible Study classes, Adult classes and mentor the teachers at the school. Melva retired as the Director of the Preschool three times before it finally happened. Melva loved to read, do crossword puzzles, Sudoku, spend time with family and friends, and she loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved doing things for others.
Melva was preceded in her death by her parents, Edith and Melvin Childress, her sister Alice, and her husband, Clyde L. Maher.
She is survived by her brother, James Childress and his wife Sharon, her children, Michael S. Maher, Patrick L. Maher and his wife Judy, Pamela S. (Maher) Stoltz and her husband Douglas, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, Melva had made a request that donations be made to Youth Dynamics for her granddaughter Jessica Ronhaar’s ministry. You are welcome to send them to: Youth Dynamics P.O. Box 672 Arlington, WA 98223. Be sure to put Jessica Ronhaar in memory of Melva Maher.
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