Melva Evelyn Chambers

Funeral Services for Melva E. Chambers will be conducted from the Grace Community Free Methodist Church in Alma, Nebraska on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Kenneth Robinson, Pastor Brian McGee and Reverend Curtis Pfeil officiating. Interment will follow in the Alma Cemetery.

Melva Evelyn Chambers, 94 years of age, of Alma, passed to her eternal reward in heaven on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the Harlan County Health System in Alma, Nebraska. Melva was born September 17, 1917 at Fort Morgan, Colorado, the daughter of Guy Glen and Alta Maude (Ingmire) Schroder. She received her primary education from Salem Country School and graduated from Huntley High School, with the class of 1935.

In her youth she was converted at a revival in the Harlan County area. She was baptized in the Republican River and then joined the Free Methodist Church.

On January 31, 1940 she was united in marriage to a young preacher from Cambridge, Ernest Chambers and to the union two daughters were born: Wilma and Darlene. For the next 40 years she worked alongside her husband as a willing and dedicated pastor's wife. On Circuits they were assigned to, they were often involved in a number of building projects where living conditions were difficult, but Melva never complained. She would cook meals for the volunteer labor that came to help with the projects and was very handy at finishing wood work and painting.

Melva served as a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent, Bible School Director, CYC Leader, was an active WMS member, church pianist and anything else needed at the church. She also served several positions in the Nebraska Free Methodist Conference. After their leaving the pastorate, she was a faithful attendee and continued to serve her Lord and the church. Even though she was able to remain in her own home she enjoyed and faithfully helped out in special things her church did at the nursing home.

As well as her devotion to her God and church, she will be remembered for her devotion to her family as a daughter, mother, and grandmother. The needs of her family were always a top priority in her life. When her father became ill, she tended to his needs as long as possible and when they moved him the nursing home, she moved in with her mother until her death a few weeks later. Her daughters could always count on a helping hand with their children and many other projects.

Her grandchildren have many fond memories of spending time at Grandma's house but one of their fondest memories is packing all seven up and taking them to Ansley, Nebraska for a family camp each year for two weeks. They had lots of fun but most of all they were encouraged to follow in her faith and accept Jesus into their lives. One of her final days in the hospital she talked about those days with her grandson and daughter.

In later life, she was a willing and loving babysitter for some of her great-grandchildren and they will always have fond memories of her. She will be greatly missed them. Her great-great-grandchildren were brought to visit her in the hospital and her eyes would light up as she would talk and reach-out and touch them. She was able to hold her latest week old great-great-grandson for a few minutes, whom she had not been able to see.

The two days before her stroke, she was constantly visited by family and friends. They were greatly blessed in that they could express their love and appreciation to her and she could in turn tell them she loved them and appreciated them. One Sunday afternoon, Rev. Curtis Pfeil and his wife brought a guitar to her room and family and friends sang for nearly two hours, while Melva tapped her fingers and moved her lips to the old hymns. It was a wonderful blessing and celebration of God's love to her and her family and everyone present. It will be a cherished memory.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Eldon Schroder, a great-granddaugher, Maddison Robinson and numerous sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Melva is survived by her husband, Ernie of 72 years of Alma; daughters, Wilma Robinson and her husband, Kenneth of Funk, Nebraska, and Darlene Barwick and her husband David of Alma; seven grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law: Phyllis Schroder of Alma, and Irene Chambers of Chicago, Illinois along with numerous nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 7, 2012 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Grace Community Free Methodist Church in Alma.

A memorial has been established in her memory and kindly suggested to the family.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.