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Obituaries for Plains Edition

Barbara J. Melvin, 73, of North Platte, died Dec. 17, 2008, at the Sutherland Care Center.

She was born to Richard and Lorraine Utpadel Morrison in Wheeling, Ill., on Jan. 9, 1935. She attended school in Illinois and California.

She married Wilber Dean Melvin on Oct. 4, 1958, in Las Vegas, Nevada. To this union were born two daughters and a son.

Dean was a career Navy man, so the family moved around the country. After he retired, the family moved to the North Platte area. She was a homemaker until her children were grown, after which she worked as a cake decorator for Krispy Krust Bakery and Dairy Queen.

She was a member of the Stapleton VFW Auxiliary; the North Platte Eagles Club; a volunteer EMT with the Stapleton Fire Department. They loved to square dance and they held offices in the State Square Dance Association.

She also loved watching birds; girl’s basketball games; and she enjoyed watching football, especially the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears.

Survivors include daughter, Kimberly (Bob) Dubs of North Platte; son, Tim Melvin of North Platte; granddaughter, Chelsey (Billy Osborn) Melvin of North Platte; grandsons, Mitchell Melvin and Trevor Melvin both of North Platte; two step-grandsons Chad (Kelly) Dubs of Castle Rock, Colo., and Brian (Ashley) Dubs of Haden, Idaho; great granddaughter, Alexus Osborn of North Platte.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Janet Melvin in 1981; and her husband, Dean in 2006.

Cecil Ray Savage, 87, of rural Shelton, died Nov. 23, 2008, at the Good Samaritan Center in Wood River.

He was born on March 28, 1921, near Kilgore to Robert and Alma (Osterman) Savage. He grew up and attended school in the Kilgore area.

He married Dorothy Hart on Oct. 28, 1940. He was a World War II veteran serving in the Pacific. He was a long time Cherry County rancher who loved working with his Angus cattle in his beloved Sandhills. He enjoyed pitching horseshoes, playing cards, shooting pool, hunting and especially fishing. He entertained family and friends with his humorous stories.

He was a member of the Shelton United Methodist Church and the Cody American Legion Post #319.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; a daughter, Gaylene Taylor of Avoca, Iowa; a son, Ralph (Judith) Savage of Shelton; a brother, Wallace Savage of Cove, Ore.; grandchildren, Timothy (Sharon) Savage, Edgerton, Kan., Jay (Laura) Taylor, West Des Moines, Iowa, Cynthia (Kyle) Catt, Panama, Neb., Troy (Cris) Taylor, Waukee, Iowa, Staci (Darin) Greunke, Winside, Neb., Christine Johannsen, Louisville, Neb., Darci (Aaron) Kester, Gilbert, Iowa; nine great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his youngest daughter and guardian angel, Donna Lea Savage; his parents; a son-in-law, Marvin Taylor; four brothers, Robert, Milton, Max and Floyd Savage and two sisters, Ruth Wyant and May Frers.

Vada I. Anway, 89 of Tryon died Dec. 18, 2008, at her home.

She was born Nov. 26, 1919, in Tryon to Dewey and Gladys Miller Harvey.

She married Lester Anway on Oct. 30, 1938, in Tryon. To this union two children were born, Lois and Leslie.

She worked with her husband on various ranches. She also worked at the Sale Barn in Tryon. She liked to garden and cook. She enjoyed going to bible study and making quilts at missionary meetings. She loved cats, always taking in strays.

Survivors include her daughter, Lois Anway; her son, Leslie (Beverly) Anway; several nieces and nephews; and lots of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Evelyn (Verle) Anway; and a brother, Jerold Harvey.

Martha J. Rodgers, 76, of Sutherland died Dec. 18, 2008, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.

She was born April 17, 1932, at Ogallala to Bert and Maxine (DeFord) Buss where she grew up and graduated from Ogallala High School in 1950. She then taught country school around Ogallala.

She married Gerald Forrest Chandler in 1950 and they made their home in Ogallala and to this union four children were born. She worked for TRW during this time. In 1961 they moved to Paxton, and ranched north of town. She owned a ceramic shop in Paxton.

On May 18, 1992, she married Virgil Lee Rodgers in North Platte. They made their home in Sutherland where she owned The Hair Hut for several years.

She enjoyed dancing, bingo and going to garage sales. She also enjoyed being with her grandkids and great-grandkids and going to the many activities they were involved with. She was a member of Hope Baptist Church in Sutherland and a past member of the Good Time Dancers.

Survivors include her husband, Virgil of Sutherland; a daughter, Susie (Harry) Branting of North Platte; two sons, Larry (Sherry) Chandler of Brule, Neb., and Mike (Anita) Chandler of Paxton; nine grandchildren, Kelle Branting, Nick Branting, Codi Chandler, Riley Chandler, Todd Chandler, Jeremy Chandler, Shannon Walker, Travis Chandler and Chase Chandler; four great-grandchildren; Kennedy, Jayden, Tyler and Tessa; two brothers, Duane (Dotsie) Buss and Glenn Buss all of Paxton; and other family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a daughter, Judy Chandler.

James A. Welch Sr., 66, of Hot Springs and formerly of North Platte, died Dec. 18, 2008, at Cheyenne, Wyo.

He graduated from Milford, Neb., in 1960; he then joined the U.S. Navy and served from 1960 to 1965. While in the Navy, Jim served as aviation machinist mate second class with AirAnti-Submarine Squadron #35. He received the Good Conduct Award in 1963.

In June of 1965 he married Margaret Chessmore in North Platte. They divorced in 1978. From this union were born Jim Jr. in 1966, Todd in 1967, and Tamara in 1976.

In 1989 he moved to Hot Springs, S.D., where he remained until the day before his death.

Survivors include two sons and one daughter, Jim Jr. (Denise) of Aurora, Colo., Todd (Lynn) of Arapahoe, and Tamara (Eric) of Aurora, Colo.; seven grandchildren; five brothers and one sister, John (Susan) of Cheyenne, Wyo., Leonard (Karna) of North Platte, Mike (Loretta) of Kearney, Jerry of Marshalltown, Iowa, LeLand (Ann) of Hurst, Texas, and Mary Ann of Cheyenne, Wyo.; and sister-in-law, Pam of Cozad; and numerous other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Faye and Vestina Welch of North Platte; and a brother, Lorand Welch of Cozad.


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