Obituary of Melva Rose Eveland

Melva Rose (Bilyeu) Eveland, of Camdenton, Missouri, born the oldest daughter of Leonard and Flossie Bilyeu on February 6, 1930 at home in California, Missouri, passed away Monday, December 16, 2013 at the age of 83. Melva graduated from California High School after attending Norma Country School though the eighth grade. She started first grade with her sister Frances by her side. After high school she moved to Kansas City where she went to work for Milgrims Grocery. She met her husband Harry Eveland there. They were married July 1, 1950 and were together fifty four years until her husband passed. Together they raised three girls. Melva made a profession of being a loving and supportive wife, mother and grandmother. She always put her family first before many of her wants and desires, inspiring us all the way. She loved nature and taught us to enjoy the simple things in life; from how the sunlight reflected on the leaves of trees, to skipping a rock across the water. Going on drives around the county roads with her husband or children was always a new and exciting adventure. We ate meals together as a family, and played games together. One of her favorite things, besides her John Deere lawn mower, was beating Harry at a game of cards. She was funny, and she enjoyed the sound of laughter because she had the joy of life; finding the good, and not focusing on the bad. We, her daughters, have always felt her encouragement in our abilities. Much like the words to the song, she really was the �Wind Beneath our Wings.� We knew no matter what, that she was, and would be, there for us, her husband, and her grandchildren. Music was an important part of her life like her mother, she hummed or sang. She loved it when her son in law Bruce would play the guitar and her family would all sing, harmonizing and laughing. She blessed us all just for being our mother. Surviving are daughters, Bonnie Armstrong and husband, Bruce, of Camdenton, Missouri, Pam Cox of Linn Creek, Missouri and Connie Riepl and husband, Greg, of Edmond, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Laith Cox, James Cox, Lauren Riepl, and Leslie Prudhomme (and her husband Tylor); one brother, Dale Bilyeu; her sisters, Frances Lowe, Helen Marinez, Blanche Bishop, Nonnie Barbour, Donna Moore, Dorothy Rescinito, Delores Bilyeu and Brenda Burton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry; one brother, Lee; and one sister, Anna.